I read a post by Dubai Police on Twitter the other day, advising motorists to top up their fuel when they leave for their daily commute.

Many motorists do not care when the fuel warning light flashes red and keep driving until the tank runs dry and they are forced to stop in the middle of the highway, it said.

That sudden stoppage causes heart-attacks for many unsuspecting motorists behind who have to dodge a stalled car.

I am guilty of this myself. Looking at the long queue of cars with their fuel tank caps open as I drove past a petrol station one evening, I decided to give this one a miss and try the next station. I then forgot about refuelling.

Later, as I was caught in a traffic jam at an interchange, another sign flashed on the dashboard: “Very low fuel,” it said. The slow ride from then onwards was like watching a cliff-hanging suspense scene in a movie.

I switched off the air-conditioner, as I had read somewhere that it helps conserve fuel. A police car zipped past with its blue lights flashing.

Apparently, there was an accident ahead and that is why we were not moving.

It will be terribly embarrassing if my fuel runs out now, my brain screamed at me. I thought of switching off the engine and switching it on, in the stop-start traffic.

Simple steps

After going through this terrible experience, I decided to write this column to help motorists get the best mileage out of a full tank — in seven simple steps.

1: Check your tyres. I was told by my tyre man (for want of a better word to describe him) that properly inflated tyres will not suck up as much fuel as improperly inflated ones, as they do not put a burden on the engine when they roll smoothly.

2: I realised it was silly to expect people to conserve fuel, when I saw my neighbour’s son run out of the building in the blazing heat of a Friday afternoon to start the car and switch on the air-conditioner. He then ran back inside to let the interior of the car cool down before his parents stepped in.

3: I decided that it would be a better idea if I instead advised motorists on how to keep their cars cool this summer. The daytime temperature is touching the high 40 degrees mark and the weatherman said there are spots in the south where it is even hitting 50. So, when parking, keep the windows an inch or two down to let the air circulate and keep the interior cool. But make sure you do not have an expensive stereo set. Some people can easily break into your car by using a Slim Jim, the thin rod that the police or the AAA guys use to break into your car when it is accidentally locked from inside.

4: Do not wear shorts and jump into your car seat, especially if you have leather seats and if the car has been sitting in the sun for a while.

5: Wear gloves. They will save your fingers feeling like they touched a stove as you hold the hot steering wheel. (You will look like a sissy, but it will keep your hands from looking leathery).

6: Find a shaded spot under a tree when parking. (But this has its own dangers as once I found my car hood littered with bird poop).

7: Cover your windscreen with a windscreen shade. It’s a great way to advertise your company or product!