Gas prices are causing quite a shock in neighborhoods across America this week. Gas prices have risen nearly 82 cents since September 2010; the average price of regular gasoline in the US has jumped 33 cents per gallon in the last two weeks. Drivers across the country are feeling the pain of record high gas prices.
A new fuel price survey says gas prices are expected to continue rising. Diesel fuel is up 29 cents, to .88 per gallon average. In California, diesel hit .23 a gallon. The average price of self-serve regular gasoline is .51; the average price for mid-grade is .64, and premium gas is at .75.
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Why are gas prices so high? Diesel prices, like gasoline prices, are driven by the ever-increasing price of crude oil. Oil is close to 5 a barrel! Some experts say it is the perfect storm for gas price increases. There are several different reasons, including:
Intense, violent fighting in Libya is escalating. The USA and other countries have stepped in and started bombing this weekend. Libyan government forces and rebels appeared to be turning into a full-blown civil war. This raised the prospect of a prolonged cut in crude exports from the OPEC oil-producing nation.
International demand for oil is very high due to rapid economic expansion in China, India and Brazil.
Extremely bad winter weather in most of the US and Europe drastically increased the demand for heating oil. This can add pressure to oil prices.
The BP oil spill resulted in reduced drilling offshore in the Gulf Coast, causing an increase in oil and gas prices.
Instead of worrying about gas prices, which we cannot control, we should focus on driving efficiency.The best way to reduce gas costs is by investing in more fuel efficient vehicles and developing smart, fuel efficient driving habits.
How you drive can significantly affect your fuel efficiency. Most people don't realize how much gas their driving behavior can be wasting. Here are some fuel efficient driving tips:
1. Use GPS navigation driving to unfamiliar places.
Getting lost only wastes time and gas.
2. Invest in a GPS navigation system with real-time traffic updates.
Wasting time sitting in traffic or construction delays does no one any good. A good GPS system such as the Garmin Nuvi will avoid congested roads when giving you directions.
3. Select the most fuel efficient vehicle the journey.
Don't take the family SUV or a big truck when you can drive a smaller and more fuel efficient vehicle.
4. Don't Let the Car Sit Idling
Letting a car idle when you're just sitting there is simply a waste of gas. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more gas and emits more pollution than restarting your car. Turn the car off if you're not moving.
5. Drive slower and don't be aggressive. Obey speed limits, accelerate and stop gradually, and anticipate stops.
Smart, fuel efficient driving habits are critically important for businesses that operate a fleet of vehicles, because small changes can have big impacts on a larger scale. In the US there are nearly 15 million business operated vehicles on the road today. Fleet vehicles are driven hard, averaging nearly double the mileage, fuel consumption and emissions of personal vehicles.
As Gas Prices Sky Rocket, Fuel Efficient Driving Tips Can Help You Conserve Gas
Codi David
Driving, Fuel Efficiency, and GPS Tracking Pro
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