Go Girl Go: New Canaan Teen Teaches DMV About Driving Green

WETHERSFIELD - Go and green mean more than just traffic signals. "Go and green" mean preserve the environment, too.

New Canaan residents Bob Schultz, and his teenage daughter, Katherine, have championed the issue in the last several months, but particularly Katherine has taken up this cause with the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

She a short video to showcase examples of ways drivers can help the environment. With the assistance of her state representative, John Hetherington, she also has worked with DMV to add environmental friendly driving information to the agency's website and the state's driver's manual.

DMV's new webpage consists of helpful links on "green" driving, other resources for information and Katherine's video. 

DMV Commissioner Robert M. Ward said, "Thinking 'green' as a driver can be beneficial in many ways. Adjusting a few common driving habits can save gas, money and decrease air pollution."

Rep. Hetherington, whose district covers parts of New Canaan and Wilton, added, "Katherine and her father have done a tremendous amount to raise awareness on the impact our driving habits have on the quality of our environment."

Katherine said the video is a helpful way to get both adults and teen drivers to become aware of this important environmental issue. It also will help promote the issue in a way that teens – who use the visual medium for learning about public affairs issues – can easily understand the environmental importance of conservation.

 "The changes to the driver's manual will help make all new drivers aware of the 'green 'driving tips and make an even bigger difference," said Katherine, a student at Greenwich Academy.

All motorists can take simple steps to improve a vehicle's fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions, she said.   Combining errands into one trip, ensuring your tires are properly inflated and avoiding quick starts and stops while you drive are some quick and easy things you can do to be "green."

 Before heading out on the road, here are some federal Environmental Protection Agency-endorsed tips drivers can use:

*   Buy smart.  Before you purchase a vehicle, research the emissions and fuel economy of different vehicles.
*   Drive smart.  To improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, go easy on the breaks and gas pedal, avoid hard accelerations, reduce time spent idling and unload unnecessary items in your truck to reduce weight.
*   Give your car a break.  Whenever possible, combine activities and errands into one trip.
*   Tune your ride.  A well-maintained vehicle is more fuel-efficient, produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, is more reliable and is safer.
*   Check your tires.  Check your tire pressure regularly.  Under-inflation increases tire wear, reduces your fuel economy by up to 3 percent and leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions and releases of air pollutants.