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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo use less fuel in stop-and-go traffic, look ahead, leave enough room to slow gradually, and accelerate smoothly when traffic moves. Keep the engine on while you are queued in traffic; shutoff advice for longer stops applies when you are safely stopped outside traffic, not when switching off could compromise safety or visibility. These habits can reduce avoidable fuel waste, but they cannot eliminate the extra fuel congestion itself demands.
Why driving style matters in a queue
Congestion forces a vehicle to slow, stop, and move again. A driver cannot prevent those interruptions, but can avoid adding unnecessary hard acceleration and braking to them. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends anticipating traffic, keeping adequate spacing, and accelerating smoothly at a moderate rate.
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The potential effect is meaningful, though it is not a promise about any one commute. DOE consumer guidance says aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by roughly 10% to 40% in stop-and-go conditions; its 2022 guidance describes a possible reduction of up to 40%. The result varies with the vehicle, conditions, and driving behavior. Treat the figures as a reason to avoid abrupt speed changes, not as a guaranteed savings estimate.
That range describes the potential penalty associated with aggressive driving; it is not a forecast that changing one habit will improve your mileage by a particular percentage. The difference will depend on what your driving was like before, the pattern of congestion, and the vehicle. Smooth driving is a way to limit avoidable fuel use, not a way to make a congested trip equivalent to an uninterrupted one.
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How to move through stop-and-go traffic efficiently
1. Read the traffic farther ahead
Try to watch the flow beyond the vehicle immediately in front of you. If brake lights appear several cars ahead or the line is compressing, ease off the accelerator early. That gives your car time to lose speed gradually instead of requiring a late, hard brake. Stay attentive to nearby vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, signals, and road hazards; looking ahead is not a reason to stop monitoring the space around you.
Anticipation is most useful when it helps you respond to a change before it becomes an emergency. For example, if the line ahead is slowing, easing off while you still have room may avoid accelerating into a gap that is about to close. Traffic can change quickly, so keep checking the vehicle ahead and be ready to brake if the slowdown becomes more abrupt than expected.
2. Leave a useful following gap
Maintain enough room to respond smoothly when the vehicle ahead slows. A gap can help you avoid repeated sharp braking and can let you preserve some momentum as the queue changes speed. Do not tailgate to close that space, and do not rely on a particular gap to override the safe following distance required by road conditions, local rules, or your own judgment. In rain, poor visibility, or other difficult conditions, control and safety take priority over fuel economy.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The goal is not to hold one exact distance in every situation. A gap that is useful in a moving queue may need to change with speed, visibility, road surface, and the behavior of surrounding drivers. If another vehicle fills the space, do not respond by accelerating aggressively to reclaim it; re-establish a safe interval when conditions allow.
3. Accelerate moderately when the line moves
When traffic starts moving, build speed gradually rather than surging toward the next short-lived opening. DOE advises moderate, smooth acceleration. AAA also recommends moderate acceleration at low engine speeds. In practice, press the accelerator progressively and leave enough space to respond if the line stops again.
In a queue that advances only a short distance at a time, there is little benefit in trying to rush to the next bumper. Smooth acceleration gives you a chance to reassess as the line moves. If traffic is moving steadily, follow its safe pace rather than creating a hazard by traveling too slowly or making abrupt changes. Efficiency never takes precedence over staying in control and following traffic laws.
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4. Ease off early, but brake when needed
When a slowdown is visible, lifting off the accelerator early can reduce the need for abrupt braking. AAA describes coasting toward stopped traffic; for everyday driving, that means allowing the vehicle to slow naturally while remaining in control and ready to brake. It does not mean selecting neutral, switching off the engine while moving, or delaying braking when a stop is necessary. Use the brakes promptly when the situation requires it.
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Think of easing off as an option for a slowdown you can see and respond to safely, not a rule to avoid using the brakes. A sudden stop, a vehicle cutting in, or a pedestrian crossing may require immediate braking. Fuel-conscious driving means avoiding unnecessary abruptness where possible, not compromising a safe stop.
5. Keep speed within the limit
AAA advises staying within the speed limit as part of fuel-conscious driving. In a queue, that means responding to the actual flow rather than accelerating aggressively to catch a gap or trying to maintain an unsuitable pace. Do not compromise safe control or compliance with traffic laws to save fuel.
Should you turn the engine off in traffic?
No: do not apply the idle shutoff recommendation to a vehicle that is queued in traffic. DOE’s consumer guide, published in December 2021, says everyday drivers can turn off the engine when stopped for 10 seconds or more, except in traffic. The traffic exception matters: the guidance is not an instruction to switch off at a red light in a queue or whenever the line pauses.
DOE’s 2022 fact sheet states that idling for as little as 10 seconds can use more fuel than stopping and restarting. That comparison is about fuel use under the conditions considered; it is not a blanket rule for every vehicle, stop, or situation. The fact sheet notes that fuel use varies with the vehicle, accessories, ambient conditions, and other factors, and its comparison draws on estimates referencing Argonne National Laboratory’s 2013 analysis.
In other words, the 10-second figure explains why shutting off can make sense in some safe, stationary situations. It should not be treated as a countdown for a traffic queue. In traffic, you may need to move promptly, and the DOE consumer guide explicitly makes that setting an exception. Follow the safety needs of the situation and the instructions for your vehicle.
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When switching off may make sense
If you are parked or otherwise stopped safely outside traffic and expect to wait, turning off the engine can avoid unnecessary idling. DOE identifies exceptions that include waiting in traffic for safety, using winter defrosting, and emissions testing that requires a warm engine. Follow the vehicle manual and account for conditions that affect safe operation, visibility, or the need to move promptly.
For everyday driving, distinguish being stopped in a queue from being safely parked and waiting. A long wait does not automatically make shutdown appropriate if you are still in traffic or need the engine for visibility or another safety-related reason. When you are safely parked and no exception applies, avoid letting the engine idle unnecessarily.
What idling can consume
DOE’s 2022 summer fuel guide estimates that idling can use about a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour. That range is a general estimate, not a prediction for your vehicle: fuel use depends on the car and conditions. It reinforces the value of avoiding extended, unnecessary idling when safely parked, but does not change the advice to keep the engine running while waiting in traffic.
Check tire pressure the right way
Proper tire pressure is a maintenance step that supports efficient operation. Use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure, not the maximum pressure printed on the tire sidewall. NHTSA says the recommended figure is on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information label or in the owner’s manual.
- Check all tires at least monthly. Include the spare if the vehicle has one.
- Measure when the tires are cold. NHTSA defines cold as the vehicle not having been driven for at least three hours.
- Use a tire-pressure gauge. Keep one available so you can check pressure rather than relying on appearance or memory.
- Compare the reading with the vehicle label or manual. Do not inflate to the tire sidewall’s maximum figure unless that is also the vehicle’s specified operating pressure.
A tire-pressure monitoring system does not replace periodic checks. NHTSA notes that newer systems warn only when a tire is significantly underinflated, so a tire can need attention before a warning appears.
A gauge is a practical, low-cost tool to keep with the vehicle, but there is no single model or feature set established here as best for every driver. The useful point is having a way to measure pressure and checking against the car’s own specification. A dashboard warning is a backup alert for significant underinflation, not a substitute for the monthly cold check.
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Can route, timing, or stop-start technology help?
Plan around congestion when practical
AAA recommends planning routes to reduce unnecessary turnarounds and backtracking and avoiding peak periods where feasible. Before a trip, consider whether a different departure time or route is workable for your plans. A traffic-aware navigation tool may help you evaluate options, but traffic changes; no route choice guarantees a particular fuel saving, and a detour is not automatically more efficient.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteRoute planning is an opportunity to reduce exposure to congestion, not a certainty that a shorter-looking route will use less fuel. Compare practical options before leaving, and consider whether changing the departure time is possible. If you are already on the road, use navigation only in a way that does not distract from driving. Conditions can shift, so treat a suggested route as an option rather than a promise.
Understand what stop-start systems can do
AAA says stop-start systems can provide an efficiency benefit, especially in low-speed stop-and-go use. The source does not give a universal percentage, and the benefit depends on the specific system, vehicle, and driving conditions. A system’s behavior and driver comfort also vary, so do not assume that a figure from one vehicle applies to another. For a model-specific estimate, the relevant evidence would need to match that make, model, and test cycle.
The commute pattern matters when considering the feature: frequent, longer pauses differ from crawling forward in very short increments. The cited guidance supports a qualitative benefit in low-speed stop-and-go use, but does not establish a model ranking or a savings figure for either pattern. If you are comparing vehicles, look for information that applies to the exact model and test conditions, and consider whether the system’s operation is comfortable for you.
Common mistakes and what to do instead
- Following too closely: It leaves less time to respond and encourages hard braking. Preserve a safe gap instead.
- Accelerating hard to catch every opening: Traffic may stop again immediately. Build speed smoothly when movement is sustained.
- Coasting in neutral or delaying a needed stop: Neither is required by fuel-saving advice. Stay in control and brake when appropriate.
- Turning off the engine while queued: DOE explicitly excludes traffic from its consumer shutoff advice. Keep the vehicle operating in the queue.
- Using the sidewall maximum as the pressure target: That number is not necessarily the car’s recommended pressure. Check the door-area vehicle label or manual.
- Waiting for a dashboard alert before checking tires: Tire-pressure monitoring warnings activate only after significant underinflation. Check monthly when cold.
- Expecting one technique to erase congestion’s fuel cost: Smooth driving can limit avoidable waste, but stop-and-go conditions still impose fuel use.
- Treating the 10-second idle comparison as a traffic rule: DOE’s consumer advice says “except in traffic.” Use the comparison only to inform safe, stationary idling decisions.
- Assuming a route app guarantees savings: AAA’s advice is to plan and avoid peak periods where feasible; changing traffic and detours make a fixed result impossible to promise.
- Assuming every stop-start system saves the same amount: The benefit is qualitative in the cited guidance and varies by system, vehicle, commute, and conditions.
A practical routine for your next congested drive
- Before leaving, check tire pressure if it is due for the monthly cold check, and use the vehicle’s specified pressure.
- If timing and route are flexible, consider avoiding peak congestion or choosing a route that avoids unnecessary backtracking.
- Once in traffic, look ahead for slowdowns and leave a safe following gap.
- Ease off early as traffic compresses; when it moves, accelerate progressively rather than surging.
- Brake as needed to maintain control, and keep the engine running while you are waiting in traffic.
- When safely parked outside traffic, avoid extended idling unless a relevant exception—such as needing defrosting—applies.
These are general U.S.-oriented consumer recommendations, not vehicle-specific operating instructions. The owner’s manual and local safety rules should guide situations where your vehicle or road conditions require a different choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I save gas in stop-and-go traffic?
Look well ahead, leave enough safe following space to respond gradually, and accelerate smoothly at a moderate rate when the line moves. Ease off early when a slowdown is visible, but brake whenever needed. DOE says aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by roughly 10% to 40% in stop-and-go conditions; that is a possible effect, not a guaranteed saving for an individual driver.
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Should I turn my car off at a long red light?
Do not apply shutdown advice to a vehicle queued in traffic. DOE’s December 2021 consumer guide says to turn off the engine when stopped for 10 seconds or more except in traffic. The 10-second comparison concerns fuel use, not a blanket instruction to shut off at a light or whenever a queue pauses. Safety, visibility, and your vehicle’s instructions take priority.
Does stop-start save fuel in traffic?
AAA says stop-start systems can provide an efficiency benefit, especially in low-speed stop-and-go use. There is no universal percentage in the cited guidance; the result and the system’s behavior depend on the vehicle, system, and driving conditions. A model-specific comparison needs evidence for that exact vehicle and test cycle.
How often should I check tire pressure, and what pressure should I use?
NHTSA recommends checking all tires, including the spare, at least monthly when cold. Cold means the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours. Use the pressure on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information label or in the owner’s manual—not the maximum printed on the tire sidewall.
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No. NHTSA says newer tire-pressure monitoring systems warn only when a tire is significantly underinflated, so periodic checks still matter. Keep a gauge available and check cold at least monthly against the vehicle’s recommended pressure.
Does turning off an idling engine use less fuel than restarting it?
DOE’s 2022 fact sheet says idling for as little as 10 seconds can use more fuel than stopping and restarting. Fuel use varies with the vehicle, accessories, ambient conditions, and other factors. DOE’s everyday-driver advice excludes traffic, so do not use this comparison as an instruction to switch off while queued.
How much fuel does idling use?
DOE’s 2022 summer fuel guide estimates about a quarter to a half gallon per hour. That is a general range, not a prediction for a particular car; actual use depends on the vehicle and conditions.
The Bottom Line
In a queue, efficiency comes from anticipation and smooth changes—not aggressive acceleration, tailgating, or delayed braking. Leave a safe gap, ease off when you can see traffic slowing, and keep the engine running while queued. Check tire pressure monthly when cold against the vehicle label or manual, and consider route or timing changes when practical. These habits can reduce avoidable fuel waste, but cannot remove congestion’s fuel cost.
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