Drive through service

Drive-through service for purchasing coffee, food, and prescription drugs has become very popular.  At certain times of the day, the lines at the drive-through consist of several cars, and it can take 10 minutes or more to complete a purchase.  Most people leave the car engine idling while they wait (although some of the newest vehicles now automatically shut off when stopped and then restart).  I researched how much gas cars use when idling and came up with numbers ranging from 0.16 gallons/hour to 1 gallon per hour, depending on the age and size of the car.  In addition to wasting gas, the idling engine emits the same pollutants as when you are driving.  

For those who are sick, handicapped, or have small children in car seats, the drive-through service is very helpful.  If you don’t fit those categories, consider parking your car, turning it off, and walking inside.  You will save gas, reduce pollution, and give your body a chance to move around a bit.