Gas-Saving Moment of the Day: Avoid Using Reverse

The easiest example of this is in a parking lot at the mall or grocery store. It will save a small bit of gas if you pull through the parking space so your vehicle faces out. When you leave, simply pull forward and you’re off. This won’t save you hundreds of dollars by any means, but it’s an important part of being fuel-conscious in your driving habits.

Why is backing up so bad? Think about it this way: Do you enjoy creeping around parking lots in first gear? Of course not, and low gears make the worst use of fuel. Not only does reverse get poor fuel economy, but you’re often covering the same territory when you use it.

For example, backing up and pulling forward is twice the driving of just pulling out of the parking space and driving away. This may seem insignificant, but over the course of a year, better driving practices will add up.

Related:
More Gas-Saving Moments of the Day (KickingTires)