Automobile Retailers

We’ve started telling you about how to save money and the environment by driving smarter. These tips are applicable behind the wheel of any car on the road, but it does make more of a difference if you drive a car with greater fuel economy. Big SUVs will still prove to be gas-guzzlers, regardless of what you do to modify your driving habits. While you may make a small difference, in order to make a more significant impact you should be thinking about driving a smaller car.

Regardless of what vehicle you’re driving, drive sensibly. Stop accelerating with such fervour and learn to brake properly. Sudden starts-and-stops will do you no favours and will take years off of the shelf life of your vehicle. Not only is that type of driving hard on your brakes and on your car’s overall operation, but it’s immensely hard on gas mileage. Pay more attention to traffic and maintain a consistent flowing speed.

Make sure you use the type of gas recommended by the manufacturer. This will help your car reach its maximum potential and will help in operation of your vehicle. Pay attention to the octane level and use the right grade of oil to avoid any additional problems. This will help your car run smoother and will help save on gas mileage, even if you’re putting in a higher grade of gas.

Be mindful of using fuel additives. The FTC and EPA state, pretty much on a regular basis, that the claims many companies make to have fuel additives that create more fuel economy are false. Don’t use an additive in your gas tank, as it may actually decrease your gas mileage and cause more emissions. Simply use the octane level of gas recommended by the car manufacturer and keep your car in good shape.

As stated before, driving a smaller car is really the best way to improve gas mileage and get more bang for your buck. One of the best cars for this purpose is the Toyota Scion. By dropping by a Scion dealer, you can save more money and will be able to enjoy your driving experience more by knowing you aren’t polluting as much. Everybody wins (except oil companies) when you drive a Scion!

Wherever you live, you probably think the drivers in your state are the worst drivers in the country. But according to statistics, New Jersey drivers are the only one that can rightfully claim that distinction.

According to the 2008 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, about 33 million drivers simply don’t know the rules of the road. That’s more than 16 percent of the drivers on the road each day! The survey asked more than 5,500 drivers from all over the country a series of questions that included the same ones on the official DMV test.

Afterwards, GMAC issued a press release saying that New Jersey finished 51st in the rankings (Washington, D.C. was also included). The average score throughout the state was less than 70 percent. The last time I was in school, that’s either a C minus or a D plus. Either way, it’s not that great. In addition to the low average, more than 36 percent of the New Jersey drivers failed the test.

If you’re curious about the best drivers in the nation, Kansas was ranked the highest with an average score of 84. Less than six percent of the drivers in that state failed the test.

There is some more good news, too. CNN noted that the national average score is beginning to rise for drivers passing the test. In fact, it grew by one percentage point since last year’s test.

And for you guys who want something more to hold onto, the test showed that 20 percent of women drivers tested failed the test while only 13 percent of male drivers failed.

Whichever state you’re in, look out for other drivers to help ensure your safety. Besides, if you just bought a new vehicle from your local Pontiac dealer , who wants to risk getting a dent, ding or something worse?