• Each vehicle operates most efficiently at a given speed. While this speed varies from model to model, most cars, vans and light–duty trucks are most fuel–efficient when travelling between 50 and 80 km/h. The faster a vehicle travels above 80 km/h, the more fuel it consumes. For example, a vehicle needs, 20 per cent more fuel to go 120 km/h than to go 100 km/h.
• For a typical 25 kilometre trip going 120 km/h instead of 100 km/h, you'll only save two and a half minutes but use 20 per cent more fuel. For example, if your vehicle uses 10 L/100 km while traveling at 100 km/hr that same vehicle would use 12 L/100km traveling at 120 km/hr. That means that on a 25 km trip you would use ½ L more fuel traveling at 120km/hr instead of 100km/hr and cost you about 50 cents more. If you consistently travel at 120km/hr instead of 100km/hr you're using about 2 Litres more fuel every hour and spending about 2 dollars more every hour.
Is saving a few minutes yet wasting fuel and money really worth it?
Stay safe this spring by adopting more fuel–efficient driving habits. Maintain a steady speed, accelerate gently, avoid high speeds, anticipate traffic and coast to decelerate. Your loved ones and your bank account will thank you.
Natural Resources Canada has some pretty convincing data on its website at www.vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca. You can also download some of their publications which have very helpful graphs and charts on the real cost of speeding and other uneconomical driving habits.