Find a Shortcut to Work

Cutting just a few miles off of your daily commute may reduce gas and depreciation costs significantly over time.  Even if this costs you an extra two or three minutes on your commute, the cost savings could add up to an amount that makes it as though you are being paid to take a shorter route.

It may be difficult to change your habits or even consider it. You may have been driving the same way to work for years.  Simple math will help you decide one way or the other.

Where to start?

Map your route using Google Maps or a similar site.  Do you notice any odd angles showing that you are going a large distance out of the way?  Keep in mind that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.  If using Google, drag and drop the route line on a section of the map that shows side streets.  Take a look at the travel time calculation.  Did it change significantly. In some cases, it may only add a few minutes.

Here's a real life example.  Between two places in Lexington, KY, there are two routes plotted.  Most people choose the shorter travel time when selecting a route for their commute. This has two effects. First, everyone is driving a little further than they need to. Second, since everyone is taking the same route and using major highways, there can be conjestion during peak commuting hours.

In this case, the quicker route is 7.1 miles and takes 13 minutes.  The second route computed is shorter at 5.2 miles and takes only 1 minute longer to travel, according to Google Maps. If you switch routes, you could reduce your daily mileage by 3.8 miles.  For a typical car that gets 22 miles per gallon, a commuter would save about 60 cents per day by switching routes (3.8 miles / 22 mpg = 0.1728 gallons saved, 0.1728 gallons x $3.50 per gallon = $0.6048 savings). This 60 cent savings comes at a cost of 2 minutes of your time.  If you were to work in a job that paid 30 cents per minute, after-tax wage would be $18 per hour.  Total savings per month should be about $12 in gasoline.

You might also find that the new route is faster or less stressful than the old route. If this is the case, you'd be silly not to change your habit.