Many motorists already know that a lead foot on the gas pedal burns up fuel more quickly, but a new study finally confirms that, my Gannett colleague, Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press, recently reported.
The U.S. Department of Energy looked at the fuel economy of 74 vehicles at speeds from 50 to 80 m.p.h. and found shocking declines as speeds climbed.
Though the declines vary from one car to another, generally speaking, “you can assume a 12.4 percent decrease at 60 vs. 50 m.p.h., 14 percent at 70 vs. 60 m.p.h. and 15.4 percent more at 80 m.p.h. Thus, 41.8 percent lower at 80 vs. 50,” Phelan wrote.
Bottom line: If you don’t want to fill up your tank so often, slow down.
(Journal News/LoHud.com file photo)
