How to save time on driving in urban areas
Photo by tronics
In a previous post I have argued that driving fast will not you save much time. For example, if you have to travel 100 km (60 miles) then by increasing your average speed from 90 km/h (55 mph) to 100 km/h (60 mph) will save you only 6 minutes and 40 seconds. So you will not get so much time by pressing your right foot down.
Still, there exist many ways how you can save time on driving. Many of us have to drive in urban areas every day and we often get stuck in heavy traffic. In those kinds of situations there are many possibilities how you can save time and reach your destination sooner:
- Avoid driving during rush hour. You can help yourself much if you are sitting in a traffic jam and have nowhere to go. You will not know if driving a mile takes you 5 or 15 minutes or even more. Usually it is possible to anticipate that kind of situations by choosing the right time for commuting. Drive to work little earlier and you will arrive there fast.
- Plan your route. Getting lost or making a wrong turn can cost you a lot of time. If you have drive in an unknown city then study map before. Using a GPS device will be helpful. Even if you have to drive in your home town and you know the road then it is a good idea to think about the destinations where do you have to drive to day. Plan your day in a way that you can visit similar places at the same time. For example, if you have to visit three clients in one location then visit them in a row in order to minimize driving around the city.
- Keep you car always moving. Anticipate traffic lights. If you see read light then decrease your speed in time and so you can keep you car rolling until it goes green. Usually the green lights on one street work in a way that when you maintain normal driving speed then you can pass all the traffic lights at green. Following this tip will also save you fuel.
- Be alert. Look far ahead with you eyes and stay active in the driving process. Watch what the 3 cars ahead of you are doing. Know what kind of traffic is building in front of you. Anticipate cars slowing down or stopping in front of you and make a line change then.
Besides these tips keep in mind that you do not have to always drive you car. You can use public transport, bicycle or take a walk. In big cities you can commute faster by using subway. If you have to travel short distances in areas with high traffic then bicycle beats the car in speed. When you go on foot then you do not have to spend time on finding the parking spot, which can be very time consuming in certain places. So choose a right way for transportation.
Subscribe to RSS feed
My name is Kristjan-Olari Leping. I am a speed reading trainer. I have an associated professor position at the University of Tartu, am a policy analyst in a policy research center, I am a trainer and I am involved in many other business projects. 