Driving Tips

Tips for Driving More Efficiently

By driving smarter, you could save £300-£350 each year. Eco-driving is about driving in a style that reduces fuel consumption, noise and greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduce load and drag: remove any excess weight or any attachment which causes drag so that your car doesn’t need to work harder to accelerate.
Plan ahead: plan unfamiliar journeys and check the traffic in advance to avoid wasting fuel getting lost or stuck in traffic.
Combine short trips: cold starts use more fuel so try to combine errands into one journey.
Switch off when idling: idling wastes fuel so it is better to switch the engine off if you are likely to be stationary for more than a minute or two. Modern cars use virtually no extra fuel when they are re-started without pressing the accelerator so you won’t waste lots of fuel turning the car back on.
Drive smoothly: anticipate the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration. Decelerate early when slowing down.
Keep moving: try and keep the car moving rather stopping and starting, by anticipating the road ahead of you. Don’t roll out of gear though as you won’t have full control of your vehicle.
Shift to a higher gear early: change up a gear at around 2000 and 2500 rpm. This makes such a difference to fuel economy that all cars in the future are likely to be fitted with an indicator light which will show the most efficient gear change points.
Air-con: air-conditioning uses more fuel at low speeds, but at higher speeds the effects are less noticeable. Try and keep the air conditioning for high speed driving. Aim to run it at least once a week throughout the year to maintain the system in good condition.
Electricals: electricals in your car increase fuel consumption so turn off your heated rear windscreen, demister blowers and headlights, when you don’t need them.
Slow down: the faster you drive the more fuel you consume. For instance, driving at 85 mph uses 25% more fuel than at 70 mph.
Consider alternatives: if you only need to travel a few miles, consider walking or cycling.
Servicing: Get your car serviced regularly to maintain engine efficiency
Maintenance: make sure you use the right specification of engine oil for your car and check your tyre pressure regularly. Under-inflated tyres create more resistance and so use more fuel.

Tips for Driving More Efficiently

By driving smarter, you could save £300-£350 each year. Eco-driving is about driving in a style that reduces fuel consumption, noise and greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduce load and drag: remove any excess weight or any attachment which causes drag so that your car doesn’t need to work harder to accelerate.

Plan ahead: plan unfamiliar journeys and check the traffic in advance to avoid wasting fuel getting lost or stuck in traffic.

Combine short trips: cold starts use more fuel so try to combine errands into one journey.

Drive smoothly: anticipate the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration. Decelerate early when slowing down.

Keep moving: try and keep the car moving rather stopping and starting, by anticipating the road ahead of you. Don’t roll out of gear though as you won’t have full control of your vehicle.

Shift to a higher gear early: change up a gear at around 2000 and 2500 rpm. This makes such a difference to fuel economy that all cars in the future are likely to be fitted with an indicator light which will show the most efficient gear change points.

Air-con: air-conditioning uses more fuel at low speeds, but at higher speeds the effects are less noticeable. Try and keep the air conditioning for high speed driving. Aim to run it at least once a week throughout the year to maintain the system in good condition.

Electricals: electricals in your car increase fuel consumption so turn off your heated rear windscreen, demister blowers and headlights, when you don’t need them.

Slow down: the faster you drive the more fuel you consume. For instance, driving at 85 mph uses 25% more fuel than at 70 mph.

Consider alternatives: if you only need to travel a few miles, consider walking or cycling.

Servicing: Get your car serviced regularly to maintain engine efficiency

Maintenance: make sure you use the right specification of engine oil for your car and check your tyre pressure regularly. Under-inflated tyres create more resistance and so use more fuel.

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