Here's my challenge and I am in need for all kind of suggestions and input for driving strategy.

• I live in Texas, where major interstate highway speed limit is usually at 70 miles per hour.
• The neighborhood I live in, the route I take for everyday commute, usually the speed limit is 45-55 miles per hour.
• I have my 2007 Prius - Woody, for about 2 months.
• The best MPG I have made it this far is about 45MPG which included few much longer trips for special events. At the moment, current tank which is more close to my everyday usage, 40% tank gone, I am at 44.1 MPG.

As we all have learned here Hybrid 101, Pulse & Glide. Prius achieves better MPG performance with lower driving speed.

With that said, what's the best driving strategy when we get on to I-35 where speed limit is 70MPH ? My husband the other day drove on I-35 at 48 miles per hour, while he's enjoying the excellent 99.9MPG bar, I was about to have a heart attack and worried the car behind us couldn't stop soon enough or change lane earlier enough before it smash us.

I very much gave him the warning "you either make it to above 55 at least or get off the highway" ( and I will drive ). He's very unhappy about the notice, unwillingly hit the gas panel to speed up, but I can understand the inner struggle. When you hit the gas panel, you get the speed, but your MPG just drops like free fall all the way down to 20 something, while your speed just barely makes it to high 50s or low 60s. I am all OK to have other cars to pass me by or give me the finger, but the safety issue concerned me.

Regardless whether it will be a long while before Woody is fully broken in. What driving strategy should apply to the route I am facing on daily basis ? Completely avoid highway is not an option and I don't think it's even acceptable.

I know that whole MPG testing / number is not realistic, ( whatever...it's 100% accurate for my 98 Accord for the past 9 years and still true today. ) but I just want to know what other hoops I have to jump through before I can achieve and maintain a decent MPG level without causing or even in a car accident due to "driving-like-a-turtle" strategy ? I am not even looking for high 50s MPG, the goal I have now is 46 MPG.

Any input, suggestion and opinions, are most welcome, but please spare me the charts with dots.

Thank you in advanced.