Poquet Auto Blog

7 Ways Bad Driving Can Cost You Money

Written by Poquet Auto | Jul 10, 2014 3:01:54 PM

These days, almost everyone knows that bad driving habits like texting while driving are not only financially costly, but are also incredibly dangerous.
But there’s also a collection of lesser-known bad driving habits that can end up costing you money. So, as you’re gearing up for summer road trips, keep a look out for these hidden costs of bad driving.

 

Here are a few hidden costs of bad driving from Michelin:

 

1. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure.

Under-inflated tires can cut your fuel economy, so be sure to keep them inflated to the recommended level.

 

2. Avoid Carrying Around Unnecessary Items.

You can save 2% on your MPG for every 100 pounds.

 

4. Avoid Hauling Cargo on Your Roof.

By not hauling cargo on your roof, you can save around 2% to 17% MPG depending upon whether you’re driving in towns and cities, a highway, or the interstate.

 

5. Keep Your Windows Closed When Driving Above 55 MPH.

Driving above 55 MPH with your windows down can reduce gas mileage by as much as 10%.

 

6. Resist Exceeding the Speed Limit. Driving over 50 MPH can quickly decrease gas mileage.

So observing the marked speed limit is not only the safe thing to do, but it can save you money (and prevent you from getting a speeding ticket!).

7. Don’t Drive Aggressively.

Avoid aggressive driving could save you 5% MPG for city/town driving and up to 33% for highway/interstate driving.

* for data sources and references, please refer to the Michelin infographic