1- Drive with hands at the "10 and 2" positions Airbag technologies have made this an undesirable position, as an airbag needs space to expand unimpeded in the precious fractions of a second after an impact. Instead, the "9 and 3" or even "8 and 4" are now recommended by the AAA automotive group.
2- Gas additives boost gas mileage
Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Reports have found that not one of these products lives up to its claims for fuel economy improvement. Pass on these.
3- Premium gas pays for itself
Performance engines are the only ones that need a high grade of gasoline, and even then, newer cars have computer systems that can sense lower octane and will automatically retard the timing of the engine to compensate.
4- Don't open windows, use AC on highway
Both Consumer Reports and edmunds.com have done studies in 2005 that proved that both closing your windows on the highway and turning off the AC have negligible effects on the fuel efficiency of the car. What does work, however, is turning on cruise control and driving the speed limit to minimize unnecessary acceleration.
5- Small cars are safe with the newest technology Even with the latest and greatest safety features on a small car, simple physics can often be the deciding factor in keeping a vehicle's occupants safe - a large mass striking a lesser mass will invariably result in one taking more damage than the other. This doesn't mean everyone should go out and buy SUVs, but even cars like the Honda Accord compare favorably with the Mini Cooper, and both get the same mileage.
6- Idle your engine instead of turning it off
Fuel injected engines actually benefit from turning off the engine if the idle time is over a minute - unlike their older carbureted cousins, restarting a warm modern engine uses a negligible amount of gasoline. Restarting a V-6 engine typically uses the same amount of fuel as idling for five seconds, according to the Mid-America Regional Council, so feel free to turn off your engines if you just miss that light or will be waiting for more than a couple seconds.
7- Let your engine warm up
After oil pressure is established after the first five to ten seconds, it's actually more efficient to start driving at a low speed, which will warm up the engine while getting you on your way. Like my old auto teacher said, idling in the driveway is always 0 mpg.
Dad wasn't wrong, the rules have just changed since his time. If you know of any other driving tips that might be outdated, or have any others to share, please feel free to share them in a comment below!