EDITOR’S
COLUMN
A
s many would know, the
prices of crude oil have
been tumbling lately,
so much so that there
has been an internet mime going around
lately on social media, depicting a bucket
of fried chicken and a barrel of crude oil.
A sentence that goes “a 12-piece bucket
of fried chicken is more expensive than a
barrel of crude oil” completes the picture.
They were not kidding when they said
that. The crude has been falling and its
price has hit rock-bottom. However, the
scenario at the pump says otherwise,
with price adjustments barely inching
past a few cents. Now, I am certainly
no expert when it comes to analysing
fuel prices, neither am I an economist
when it comes to understanding the
complex supply and demand chain
for liquid gold around the world.
To add salt to the wound, a report
was published lately, to concur that
there is no colluding between petroleum
companies for the unexplainably similar
prices at the pumps. The matter of
the fact is, we cannot do anything
more than whine about the stagnant
prices at the pumps. The only thingwe can do at this present moment,
with total power within our means to
change, is the way we drive our cars.
Sure, it is easy to leap from the
get-go with your foot mashing down
hard on the throttle, but the only thing
that pays the price for a last-minute
lane change will be your wallet, since
a fully-opened throttle position will
only command the fuel injectors to
spray their maximum volume down the
combustion chamber, draining your fuel
tank of precious automotive nectar.
That said, the best way to drive is to
regulate your throttle and be patient,
with the latter being a rarity these days
in our fast-paced urbanite society. To
aid your quest in driving your money’s
worth, here are some simple tips that
I frequently practise on test drives.Plan your route of travel
When I say plan, I mean time and
distance. A different of five minutes can
mean the world, especially during peak
hour periods. Five minutes is enough
to beat the snooze-alarm beaters to
the road, allowing you the freedom
of selecting lanes when needed toovertake road-hoggers and large
vehicles. Naturally, plot the best way
to your destination. I don’t mean the
shortest distance, since it might also be
a popular route for many. Sometimes,
a slightly longer route might be a
smoother route and safer journey, sans
the traffic lights and road hoggers.Reset your trip/average fuel
consumption meter
Your trip meter is the best way to
prove that all your hard work into
managing your throttle and temper
has paid off. After every top-up at
the petrol station, remember to reset
the statistics as a sign of a challenge,
to save as much fuel as you can
before you hit the pump again.Check your tyres regularly
I cannot further emphasize on tyre
inspection. Tyres lose pressure every
single day, regardless whether the car
has been driven frequently or not. Tyres
pressure should not be overlooked,
since these play crucial roles in both
areas of safety and fuel economy. Low
tyre pressures run the risk of unevenTEXT AND PHOTOS AARON HIAFUEL FRUGALITY
Our man faces reality with fuel prices, even though some say that crude
oil is cheaper than a bucket of fried chicken...42 // March 2016