You can reduce the damage your vehicle causes to the environment by adopting several practical habits and choices: Drive Less and Choose Alternatives

• Walk, bike, or use public transit whenever possible to reduce miles driven.
• Carpool, use ride-sharing, or work from home if feasible to cut down on solo driving.
• Plan trips ahead, combine errands in one trip, and avoid peak traffic times.

Drive Wisely and Maintain Your Vehicle

• Drive smoothly with gentle acceleration and braking to save fuel and reduce emissions.
• Anticipate traffic ahead to avoid harsh braking and over-revving the engine.
• Use the appropriate gears to optimize fuel efficiency.
• Regularly maintain your car according to manufacturer schedules, keep tires properly inflated, and minimize idling.

Select Fuel-Efficient and Low-Emission Vehicles

• Consider fuel-efficient vehicles including electric, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell, and cleaner gasoline models.
• Use government guides like EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide or local equivalents to compare environmental footprints of vehicles.
• Electric vehicles produce no exhaust emissions during operation, helping reduce local air pollution.

Other Tips

• Minimize vehicle load to reduce fuel consumption.
• Avoid excessive short journeys as engines are less efficient when not fully warmed up.
• Use eco-driving modes if available in electric and hybrid cars.
• Dispose of car fluids properly and consider clean technologies.

By reducing driving frequency, driving more efficiently, maintaining vehicles well, and choosing greener cars, the environmental impact of your vehicle can be significantly lessened.