Motoring tips could drive down costs
INEFFICIENT driving costs motorists in the South West £751million a year, new research has found.
Drivers could save an average of £270 each, or 20p of every litre spent on petrol and diesel, by simply following a range of smarter driving tips.
The fuel saved in the South West alone would fill the largest cargo ship in the world more than six times over, or 1,369 Olympic swimming pools.
Energy Saving Trust today launches Fuel Your Passion, a three-month campaign to inspire drivers to save money behind the wheel and cut the amount of carbon dioxide their vehicle emits.
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Tim Anderson, senior knowledge manager, said: "Smarter driving techniques are easy to adopt, but can make a huge difference at the pumps – which is more important than ever in these tough economic times.
"Anticipating road conditions and driving more smoothly, shifting up gears early and turning off a car's engine at traffic lights all make a massive difference. In fact, if every driver in the South West adopted the Energy Saving Trust's tactics they could save around £270 a year."
Energy Saving Trust's top smarter driving tips include: drive smoothly – avoid heavy acceleration and braking. Slow down – travelling at 70mph instead of 85mph on the motorway can save around £20 a year and shift up gears early, between 2,000 and 2,500rpm.
Comments
by josdave
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:51PM
“There are many ways to save money and most of them involve that old underused commodity common sense.
Keep your distance from the vehicle in front and as soon as the traffic shows signs of slowing ease up on the accelerator. This will slow just as effectively as leaving it to the last minute and braking heavily apart from lessening wear and tear on the brake pads.
Drive defensively always expecting the unepected.
Motorways are very inefficient as the most economic speed for most cars is between 50 and 60 so anything approaching this speed, ignoring those who think you are going at snail's pace, will save you money.
Always take care to be in the right gear as a labouring engine eats up more fuel.
Last but not least ignore all the other idiots on the road who may beep at you for driving sensibly while at the same time looking out for them to do something silly.”
by JMonners
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:26AM
“Alternatively, the government could clamp down on the fuel profiteering that increases pump prices at the slightest whiff of a rise, but takes weeks to pass on a price reduction when wholesale oil prices decrease”
by 10thattempt
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:13AM
“"Travelling at 70mph instead of 85 can save £20 a year"? Surely that depends on how many motorway miles you do, and besides, it can save you £60 if you get caught.
And given the fiasco last time there was a potential drivers' strike, I think encouraging people to stockpile the saved fuel in Olympic sized swimming pools is a little irresponsible.”