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Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient 1. Use Smooth Accelerator and Brake Pedal Application ∙ Avoid rapid starts and stops. ∙ Use smooth, gentle accelerator and brake application whenever possible. ∙ Maintain constant speed while com- muting and coast whenever pos- 2. Maintain Constant Speed ∙ Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops. ∙ Synchronizing your speed with traffic lights allows you to reduce your num- ∙ Maintaining a steady speed can mini- mize red light stops and improve fuel 3. Use Air Conditioning (A/C) at Higher Vehicle Speeds ∙ Below 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient to open windows to cool the ∙ Above 40 mph (64 km/h), it is more efficient to use A/C to cool the vehicle ∙ Recirculating the cool air in the cabin when the A/C is on reduces cooling 4. Drive at Economical Speeds and Dis- tances ∙ Observing the speed limit and not exceeding 60 mph (97 km/h) (where ∙ Maintaining a safe following distance behind other vehicles reduces un- ∙ Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate changes in speed permits reduced ∙ Select a gear range suitable to road conditions. 5. Use Cruise Control ∙ Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady ∙ Cruise control is particularly effective in providing fuel savings when driving 6. Plan for the Shortest Route ∙ Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save 7. Avoid Idling ∙ Shutting off your hybrid system when safe for stops exceeding 30–60 sec- 8. Buy an Automated Pass for Toll Roads ∙ Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis- 9. Winter Warm Up ∙ Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy. ∙ Vehicles typically need no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up to FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS 5-104 Starting and driving |