Whether gas prices are rising or falling, everyone will always be searching for new ways to conserve petroleum. Preserving this fossil fuel is good not only for the pocketbook but the environment as well and because of this, saving gas is one of those peculiar areas in life where personal interest actually coincides with public good. If you are the type of person who wants to save the world or just someone who wants to save a little money, learning to coast your vehicle is an easy and effective way to conserve energy.
Get low resistance tires. While the initial cost of new tires is considerable, tire models that specialize in reducing road resistance such as Michelin Energy MX 4's claim to help increase gas mileage. This gas-saving feature will be even more significant for someone who intends on coasting their vehicle as much as possible.
Lighten your vehicle. Many people carry all kinds of unnecessary items in the trunk of their car or even in their back seat. Do yourself a favor and clean out your car. Not only will this make for a more aesthetically appealing interior but it will also reduce drag on your vehicle while coasting.
Don't tailgate. Tailgating will result in more abrupt starts and stops due to the decreased reaction time you have to the car in front of you.
Plan out your route beforehand. Choose the path that is going to have the least number of stop signs and street lights. This will allow you to coast for greater distances at a time.
Look ahead. Even the most advanced coaster will inevitably run into an occasional red light. When this happens try and avoid coming to a complete stop. This can be done by anticipating the red light ahead of time and slowing your vehicle appropriately. By slowing down ahead of time, there is an increased chance that by the time you reach the red light it will have changed to green again. While your coasting speed may have been diminished by the slowing, it is still better than having to accelerate from a dead stop.
