Hey smarty, VT’s statute indicates: “No driver of a motor truck or motor bus, when traveling upon a downgrade, shall coast with the clutch disengaged.”

and in fact I’m willing to bet most states follow a similar statute. What the author is suggesting is different from what the law prohibits. Though, I can see the confusion.

I’m pretty sure the author means to take your foot off the gas and let the car de-accelerate on its own momentum versus shifting the car into neutral.

1 “Controlled Accelerations”

“By accelerating slowly and steadily to our cruising speed, we let the vehicle work more efficiently at becoming an object in motion from an object at rest. If we gun the gas and try to get to speed quickly, then we stand the greater chance of needing to slow down again, losing all of that momentum.”

this all depends on the make and model of your vehicle. i drive a saturn 96 sl2. it actually uses less fuel in city driving to accelerate to speed faster than slower. there is a reason their are GEARS.

2 “Turn Off The Air Conditioning”

“It has been suggested that air conditioning in a vehicle can increase fuel consumption by up to 10 percent. This is an easy way to save fuel. And just imagine if you suddenly had 10 percent of all the money you spent in gasoline last year in your hand?”

this has been proven to be true. but then it has also been proven to use less gas that driving with your windows open.

3 “Slow down”

“In a typical family sedan, every 10 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like the price of gasoline going up about 54 cents a gallon. CNN Money”

“The faster your vehicle moves through the air, the greater drag it creates in the surrounding air. By slowing down, the vehicle encounters less resistance and uses less energy for the same amount of work. A reduction of 20-mph in your regular highway speed can yield measurable savings in a short time.”

cnn is not a source for math nor science. this all depends on your RPMs and what gear you are in. also depends on make and model of vehicle.

4 “Coasting To a Stop”

“When you see a red light or stop sign coming up, then let of the gas and coast to the stop instead of remaining accelerated and hitting the brakes when you get there. By doing so you not only save gas, but your brakes get less of a workout. You save money in both gas and brake replacement, and the planet saves on valuable resources.”

This is illegal in many states and countries. dont know why but it is. look it up in ri, va, vt etc.

5 “Turn It Off”

“If you are stopped on the road for an extended period of time – such as a train passing, road construction, or an accident – then consider turning the vehicle off after 20 seconds or more. This saves the idle time fuel as well as potentially saves you vehicle from overheating. Plus it stops the emissions from the idling vehicle, which is always nicer for our planet.”

This is also against the law in almost every state. this is an obstruction to traffic. also a major cause of road rage if you take too long to start it back up. you can be fined for turning your car off at a construction zone. always turn your vehicle off in any accident. the police may charge you with attempting to run.

thats my 2 cents