How to Cut Back on Smog and Smug While Driving Your Hybrid

I've touched on the importance of not being a pretentious green ass before—but I figured hybrid car etiquette deserves a column all its own. After all, hybrids and their "smug" owners have been lampooned by conservative talk radio hosts and South Park episodes alike. The idea of the self- satisfied movie star parading around in a Prius does seem rife for parody—but we shouldn't let them cast a pretentious shadow over hybrid ownership as a whole.

First of all, there's nothing elitist about wanting to or driving a hybrid. Especially now that there's a hybrid for under $20 grand on the market. It's no longer a sign of the wealthy green deed doer: it's a consumer's choice to get better gas mileage and help out the environment. What's so pretentious about that?

So, if you have a hybrid car, or are planning to buy one soon, all you have to do is counter the eroding stereotype—by being the reasonable, down to earth, person you most likely are.

Do not constantly note how many tons of carbon emissions you are saving per year by driving your car. Do not fake a cough when the non-hybrid car next to yours pulls out in the parking lot and wave a hand in front of your face, as you would to a smoker sitting too close to you on a park bench.

Instead, mention your superior gas mileage if asked. People are curious about your car, and a few are skeptical. Go ahead and volunteer to drive if you're carpooling—many people haven't been in a hybrid and will look forward to testing it out. In essence, treat it like any other car. You should be proud of it—hybrids do after all cut emissions, often in a big way—and most handle beautifully and are a joy to drive.

The more populist the hybrids become the better (though I don't know about using sky banners to advertise them). They can help to relieve carbon emissions in a big way if they replace enough cars on the road. So you're actually doing two green acts by driving a hybrid—cutting back on emissions and encouraging others to do the same. Just as long as you're not smug about it.