Of all your daily activities, driving a car or truck is probably the single most polluting thing you do. But if you’re a typical Texan, sliding behind the wheel of your motor vehicle is something you do just about everyday, several times a day. And the consequences of all that driving is serious. Motor vehicles also emit large amounts of carbon dioxide and a number of air toxins such as benzene. Air toxins can cause serious health problems, including cancer.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, motor vehicle emissions account for 56 percent of the ozone forming precursors and are the single greatest contributors to ground-level ozone. Ozone pollution causes respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, and can lead to permanent lung damage.

You can drive cleaner by making the most of your traveling options. Mass transit, carpooling, vanpooling, bicycling, walking, telecommuting and alternative work schedules are all ways to help reduce motor vehicle emissions by reducing single-occupancy vehicles. This is important because Americans drive more than two trillion miles per year, a figure that is double what it was 20 years ago and still on the rise. If we want to protest the quality of our air and our health, we must make major changes in the vehicles we drive and in our driving habits.

Mass Transit

You can make a significant difference by riding mass transit instead of driving alone. For instance, one person using mass transit for a year instead of driving to work can keep an average of 9.1 pounds of hydrocarbons, 62.5 pounds of carbon monoxide and 4.9 pounds of nitrogen oxides from being discharged into the air. A high concentration of these elements can be harmful to our health.

Carpooling

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If mass transit is not available, carpooling is another option. Carpooling is easy and the most common way of ridesharing. A carpool consists of two to six people sharing a ride in a private vehicle. Just boosting the occupancy of vehicles during rush hour from one person to a two-person carpool would save 40 million gallons of gasoline a day nationwide (or more than 15 percent of the U.S. gasoline consumption), while reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

Here’s how carpooling cuts vehicle emissions: Suppose 100 employees who normally drive 20 miles round-trip to work (10 miles each way) decide to commute in pairs instead of driving alone. In two weeks' time, their choice would eliminate 10,000 miles of vehicle travel. They would save 75 pounds of hydrocarbons, 30 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 550 pounds of carbon monoxide, 9900 pounds of carbon dioxide, and 500 gallons of gasoline.

Vanpooling

Vanpooling consist of seven to fifteen passengers sharing a van with convenient pick-up and destination point. A primary driver volunteers to do all the driving, with back up drivers available, if needed. The remaining individuals are charged a fee. In Tarrant County's case our employees van fee is subsidized to reduce their cost.

Bicycling, Walking and Telecommuting

Bicycling and walking are an inexpensive and environmentally sound alternatives to motor vehicles. Each work related trip represents a 100 percent drop in vehicle emissions.

Telecommuting allows employees to either stay at home or travel to a satellite work center located closer to home than the primary worksite. Telecommuting is the transporting of information rather than individuals. It is important to understand that telecommuting does not necessarily require computers or advanced technology. Telecommuting is generally a part-time arrangement that is utilized two to three times a week by an employee. If you telecommuted from home two or three days a week, or tried to work an alternative workweek, you could save up to three weeks' worth of driving time a year.

How Much Can I Save?

The American Automobile Association estimates that it cost you 41.8 cent per mile to operate your car or truck. Based on this, by ridesharing everyday with a round-trip commute of 20 miles, you can save up to $167 a month on gas, insurance, parking fees, and wear and tear on your vehicle. Additionally, your insurance premiums could go down as much as 20 percent by designating your automobile for pleasure-use only. Also, don't forget that the resale value of your automobile will be much higher because the vehicle will have fewer miles on the odometer.

Alternative Work Schedules

Flextime, compressed workweeks, and staggered work hours are all alternative work schedules because the individual’s hours vary from the regular 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. workday. Alternative work schedules benefit air quality by reducing vehicle trips and/or rush-hour congestion.

Flextime allows employees to arrive earlier or later, so long as they work 40 hours per week. Some employers establish a core workday, such as 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., so that all employees would be expected to be in the office during these hours.

Compressed workweeks allow employees to spread their required work hours over fewer days per week. This reduces the number of trips to the worksite, while allowing employees to take the remaining time off.

Staggered work hours alter employees' starting and ending time in ranges of fifteen minutes to two hours. This moves some employees out of the peak morning and afternoon commuting period.

Vehicle Maintenance and Good Driving Hints

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All vehicles, new or old, require regular maintenance. Check your owner's manual to determine exactly what should be done and how often, since many newer vehicles require less frequent maintenance than older vehicles. Additionally, be aware of maintenance requirements under the manufacturer's warranty.

Performing regular tune-ups is the best way to keep your car or truck running efficiently. Typically, a tune-up might include the replacement of the air filter, fuel filter, hoses, belts, spark plugs, oil filter and other fluids. Additionally, items that should be checked and/or replaced regularly throughout the life of your vehicle include: tires, fuel injection system, brakes, transmission and the emission control systems.

The improper functioning of any of these parts or systems can result in loss of fuel economy. The use of more fuel than necessary or improper fuel combustion will lead to additional emissions coming from your vehicle.

You can significantly reduce pollution from your car or truck by driving less; improving your driving habits; making sure your vehicle is well-maintained; and, if you’re thinking of buying a used vehicle making sure its emission-control system is running properly.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

During Driving:

• Reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled. This is the most effective strategy in lowering vehicle emissions. It includes car pooling/van pooling, telecommuting, riding public transportation and planning ahead to combine trips.
• Avoid excessive idling. Idling for more than 30 seconds burns more gas than it takes to restart the engine.
• Avoid drive-through windows, take advantage of staggered work schedules and drive during off-peak traffic hours.
• Avoid drag. Remove heavy items from your vehicle when possible and avoid carrying items on the roof. The drag created by excess weight can reduce your fuel efficiency.
• Do not “top off” your gas tank. This leads to additional evaporative emissions, or even spills.

During Maintenance:

• Perform routine maintenance according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Replace oil and filters at recommended times, using an energy-saving grade of motor oils (labeled EC or Energy Conserving). You might be surprised to learn that the emissions from one poorly maintained vehicle can equal those from 25 properly functioning vehicles!
• Don’t tamper with your vehicle’s emission controls and be sure to get your vehicle inspected annually.
• Pay attention to a loss in fuel economy. This usually signals an increase in emissions.
• Watch for signals from your vehicle’s tailpipe that your car or truck may be running inefficiently. Black smoke means there is too much gas in the air-fuel mixture and the fuel injection system should be checked. Blue smoke means the engine is burning oil and too many hydrocarbons are being released.
• Pay attention to dashboard lights that warn of engine problems. Newer vehicles are equipped with on board diagnostic equipment - under-the-hood computers with dashboard displays - altering drivers to malfunctioning emission control equipment. Travel at steady speeds. Acceleration causes more emissions.
• Keep your tires properly inflated to ensure maximum fuel efficiency.
• Check your vehicle’s wheel alignment and adjust as necessary. Incorrect alignment can waste fuel.
• Make sure that your gas cap fits properly. This helps prevent gasoline vapors from escaping into the air.

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