The Drive Smarter Challenge: Part Deux

The Alliance is set to launch the second year of the Drive Smarter Challenge (DSC), a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers reduce their gasoline bills through simple driving and vehicle maintenance tips.

The price of fuel may have dropped by $1.09 over last year, but curtialing daily expenses remains a priority for consumers squeezed by the economic crisis. For the Alliance, this challenge presents an opportunity to promote energy efficiency as the most cost-effective solution to saving money, energy and emissions.

Enter the Drive Smarter Challenge, last year's successful fuel-efficiency campaign that helped thousands of consumers trim their gas budgets.

When first launched in May 2008, the DSC utilized consumer market research to create a variety of media carrying the fuel efficiency message. This included arpproximately 2 million tip cards distributed nationally; four radio public service announcements aired on 762 radio stations; 622 billboards; and over 7,631 newspaper, magazine, radio, or television story placements. Last year, over 118,383 consumers discovered fuel efficiency tips on the DSC website and committed to saving $24.15 million dollars in gas expenses, 7.34 million gallons of gasoline and 82 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

This year, the Alliance will join the following 13 partners who have committed their time, expertise and resouces to the campaign:

• American Petroleum Institute
• American Public Transportation Association
• Car Care Council
• Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• ExxonMobil
• League of American Bicyclists
• NASCAR
• National Association of Counties
• National Association of State Energy Officials
• National Independent Auto Dealers Association
• National Fuel Funds Network
• National Low Income Energy Consortium
• Rubber Manufacturers Association’s Be Tire Smart

With insight and participation from our partners, we anticipate another successful year as we raise consumer awareness about fuel efficiency and influence a positive change in the economy, health of the environment and our national energy security.

If you’d like more information on becoming a campaign partner or would like to discuss outreach opportunities, please email Director of Communications Susan Shuckra (sshuckra@ase.org).