Sunday 17 February 2013

These Fuelish Things - Eco Driving

Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. 

This week is National Go Green Week, so in the spirit of saving the planet, Peter is advising on eco-driving.

•    Try to brake as infrequently as possible – slow down and take your foot off the accelerator earlier when approaching a queue, junction, roundabout or red traffic lights. Look further ahead of you so you can start doing things earlier, making braking smoother and more gradual.

•    If you get stuck in a traffic jam, switch your engine off while you wait.

•    Stick to the speed limit. This offers a fair compromise between economy and getting somewhere efficiently. There’s a significant saving made by doing 70 instead of 80, as well as avoiding any risk of speeding fines.

•    If you are able to do so, use block gear changing (e.g. 2nd to 4th when accelerating, or 5th to 2nd when decelerating). This is more fuel-efficient than working your way through the gears.

•    Reverse into parking bays. If you do all the manoeuvring with a hot engine you can drive straight off when you come back and warm the engine up more quickly.

•    Check your vehicle regularly to ensure it operates efficiently. In particular, check your tyre tread depth and pressure (tyre pressure should be checked when the tyres are cold, before the air inside them heats up).

•    Remove excess weight, including roof racks, car clutter and unnecessary items in the boot. The more weight you carry in the car, the more fuel you’ll consume.
 
Peter commented further saying:
 “We’ve all got better things to spend our money on than petrol. Green driving can save you up to 15% on your bills, as well as reducing your carbon emissions.”
To help drivers stay safe this winter, the IAM has launched a new website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with traffic updates, weather forecasts and tips on how to drive safely in winter. Tips cover rain, snow, ice, fog and wind – everything you can expect in a typically unpredictable British winter. 

Check it out before you travel.

Image used under Creative Commons licence
 


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