BELLINGHAM — Washington drivers are using 5 percent less gas than last year, according to a recent study by insurance comparison website QuoteWizard.
The study found that across the country, drivers are using 10,500 fewer gallons of gas a day than they were in 2021, enough fuel to drive around the Earth 260 times.
As gas prices and inflation have hit Americans hard, more citizens are looking for ways to use less gas and save money by biking, walking or other means of transportation.
Gas prices have finally started to decrease, as the national average price per gallon dropped from $4.95 last week to $4.86 this week, according to the American Automobile Association.
Washington was found to be 45th most gas-guzzling state, averaging 160 gallons used per person. Montana was the top gas-guzzling state and averaged a use of 314 gallons per person.
In Washington, drivers are using 392,000 fewer gallons of gas daily than they did in 2021, with the average driver only using 213 gallons of gas every six months.
Washington’s average gas price per gallon also dropped in the last week, now averaging $5.48 a gallon from $5.52 last week, AAA reported.
Minnesota and Vermont used nearly 20 percent less gas in 2022 in comparison to 2021, and 12 other states decreased gas use by nearly 10 percent. Only seven states had an increase in gas usage.
How to use less gas
State Farm has a few tips for drivers to use less gas and be more fuel-efficient:
- Glide into your stops instead of slamming on the break.
- Drive at a consistent, moderate speed.
- Do not accelerate quickly.
- Do not idle for a long period of time. If you have to wait in your car for longer than a minute or two, turn off your car.
- Carpool or take alternate transportation such as a bike, bus or public transit.
- Travel light and keep your car aerodynamic by not carrying heavy loads and closing windows on freeways.
- Keep your car in good shape by performing routine maintenance and keeping tires inflated and rotated.
- Combine short trips while driving, as warm engines run more efficiently than cold engines.
