Eco Safe Driving

Eco-safe driving could save you as much as £130 pounds per year in fuel alone.

Eco-safe driving cuts down the amount of CO2 your car puts into the environment.

Eco-safe driving cuts down the wear and tear on your vehicle (saving you more money on brakes, tyres etc.)

Here are six simple driving tips supplied by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) you can follow. See for yourself the difference it can make to the running costs of your car.

1. Pump up to cut down

Under inflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving. That means your engine has to work harder, so more fuel is used and more CO2 is produced. Simply check and adjust your tyre pressures regularly and before long journeys. This will help you increase the life of your tyres.

Under inflated tyres produce more CO2 but over inflated tyres can be unsafe. Check your car manual for the correct tyre pressures. Remember a car carrying a heavier load will need more pressure in the tyres than a car carrying a lighter load.

 

2.Less clutter in your car means less CO2

Clutter in your boot is extra weight your engine has to carry around. By removing it you could reduce your engine's workload. This will burn less fuel and cut down your CO2 emissions. So unload any items you won't need before starting your journey.

Does your car carry a roof rack? If you don't need it for the journey then remove it. Your engine needs to work harder because there is more wind resistance on your vehicle.

 

3.Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO2

Speed limits are the maximum lawful speeds which may be driven in ideal circumstances. Drivers should never exceed the speed limit. Staying at or within the speed limit increases driver safety. It also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money in fuel costs. At 70mph you could be using up to 9% more more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more than at 50mph.

 

4. Less stopping and starting means less CO2

Everytime you stop and start again in a traffic queue, the engine uses more fuel and therefore produces more CO2. Keep an eye on the traffic ahead and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear. In this way, the traffic ahead may have started moving again by the time you approach the vehicle infront, so you can then change the gear and be on your way.

 

5.Over revving accelerates emissions

Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position only wastes fuel and increases engine wear.

Using your gears wisely by changing up a gear a little earlier can also reduce revs.

If you drive a diesel car try changing gear when the rev counter reaches 2000 rpm. For a petrol car 2500 rpm.

 

6.Idling is wasting fuel

When the engine is idling you are wasting fuel and adding to CO2 emissions. If you are likely to be at a standstill for a long period, 3 or 4 minutes, then simply switch off the engine.

 

Let us help you......

For the small price of a standard 2 hour lesson we can assess your driving and help you put the above tips into practice. One of our qualified professional driving instructors will sit alongside you and give you the advice you need to be able to drive in a 'greener' and cheaper way. Just simply give us a call and we will be happy to help.

 

Call us: 0191 5250562 / 07731 675 967 or e-mail gary@solouk.co.uk