Slow down to use less gas and save money

Two weeks ago I saw on the TV a news clip on a fellow who had changed his driving habits, and was getting twice the mileage per gallon. At this time I was getting between 31 and 32 miles per gallon of gas. I'm now getting 36 to 37 miles per gallon.

I commute daily from Careywood to Sandpoint and back. I now drive that stretch, at 60 mph on the flat.

I do not accelerate to get up the rises in this stretch. Yes, that means I slow to around 53 mph to get up them. On the other end I get up to 65 mph going down the other side. I try not to come to a full stop at the morning crawl across the Long Bridge. I also avoid quick accelerations when I do come to a stop.

The big inconvenience, if you want to call it that, to myself is that I must leave the house a few minutes earlier. The apparent inconvenience to you, most driving SUVs and full-sized pickups, many towing utility trailers, is you pass me at 70 to 80 mph going up those small grades, and any other place you can find.

Often you're finding it necessary to crossing over solid white lines, and solid yellow lines to do so. All for the sake of being a few car lengths in front of me at the first stoplight.

It's nice to see so many North Idahoans making so much money they can afford the gas. In fact you must be so well-to-do, that perhaps, you'd like to throw a $5, or $10 bill out your window for me as you pass. I'll stop, pick it up and add 1 mph to my speed for each one I get. Then we can all get to that first stop light at the same time. Gee, I guess we already do!

I guess you already are throwing that money away. Never mind.

PETE HODGKINS

Careywood