American churchgoers can start a revolution to free America from our dependence on foreign oil. We need only to follow the law and use common sense. Would Jesus drive faster than the speed limit? I think not. Would Jesus observe common courtesy on the road? Of course.

Americans have it within their power to solve the so-called oil crisis. America imports 25 percent of our oil from OPEC. Many of these countries are hostile to America and our way of life. OPEC thinks they have us over the proverbial barrel.

Churchgoers can start a Grass roots campaign beginning with ourselves to break America’s addiction to foreign oil. Hopefully, conserving gasoline will become the patriotic thing to do.

Racing away from stop signs and exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph would be seen as anti-American.

I believe Americans can begin to solve our dependence of the oil cartel by doing a few simple things such as;

• Driving at the posted speed limit.

• Driving 5 mph less (70 - 65) = 8 percent more efficient.

• Driving 10 mph less (70 - 60) = 15 percent more efficient.

• Driving 15 mph less (70 - 55) = 23 percent more efficient.

• Keeping our cars in good working order.

• Following recommended maintenance = 10 percent more efficient

• Maintain recommended tire pressure = 5 percent more efficient.

These simple steps will reduce the use of gasoline by 20-to-30 percent. I know from my own experience. By following the preceding steps over a six-month period, my mpg went from 22/26 to 27/32. This was an increase of 23 percent mpg.

Many other things can be done to increase [mileage]:

• Coast to stop signs; let the car’s weight brake the last 100 feet.

• Keep the tachometer under 2,000 rpms; don’t race away from stoplights.

• Don’t warm up the car in the morning.

• Use air conditioning only when needed.

• Don’t top off your gas tank; excess gas will spill on the drive.

• Take unneeded items out of the trunk; excess weight lowers gas mileage.

David O’Reilly, CEO of Chevron Oil, stated on Larry King Live recently, “Americans would save 1,000,000 barrels of oil every Day for every one mpg increase in the nations mpg average.”

Increasing our national mpg average would do many things:

1. Eliminate the immediate need for electric or hydrogen cars.

2. Reduce the demand for oil, resulting in an immediate and long-term drop in oil prices.

3. Save 5,000 to 10,000 lives each year by reducing high-speed auto accidents.

4. Give us time to develop bio-fuel alternatives.

5. Give Americans a chance to do something positive to solve our dependence on foreign oil.

We,the American driving public, are the main causes of our gas addiction. As Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

We can solve our gas dilemma, if only we can muster the will.

John W. Merrick, DVM

Peachtree City, Ga.

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