Can't ditch the car? Take these tips from Ford.

Taking a cue from astronomical gas prices and the American consumer’s abrupt U-turn away from gas-guzzling vehicles, Ford has developed ten tips for EcoDriving (or, driving down your fuel usage). Attempting to be EcoCute, Ford calls EcoDriving ECOnomical (it saves money) and ECOlogical (it saves the environment). So, straight from the fossil-fuel reliant auto giant itself, here are ten tips to decrease the impact on the earth and your bank account when you’re in the car:
1. Slow down and maintain steady speed. Drive 55 miles per hour, aim for a constant speed and use cruise control whenever possible on the highway.
2. Relax. Aggressive driving wastes fuel, so accelerate smoothly from a stop and brake softly.
3. No idling. Today’s engines don’t need to warm up in cold temperatures. State the car and gentle drive away. Turn the engine off in non-traffic situations, such as at bank and fast-food drive-up windows, when idling more than 30 seconds.
4. Check your tires. Keep tires inflated to the recommended tire pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4 percent.
5. Be kind to your vehicle. Keep the wheels aligned. Replace air filters as recommended.
6. Travel light. Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack and remove excess weight from the vehicle.
7. Minimize use of the heater and air conditioning. Decreasing your usage of the air conditioner when temperatures are above 80 degrees can help you save 10-15 percent of fuel.
8. Close windows at high speeds. Don’t drive with the windows open unless your speed is under 50mph.
9. Choose the right oil. Look for cans marked with the symbol ECII, which is the American Society of Testing Materials logo for fuel-efficient oils.
10. Consolidate trips. This will enable you to bypass congested routes, lead to less idling, fewer start-ups and less stop-and-go traffic.

Hat tip to The Examiner, 24 July 2008.