Small changes to your driving can make all the difference

8:25am Wednesday 9th April 2008

Motorists are being challenged at the moment, and rightly so, since a quarter of the UK's CO2 emissions come out of our exhaust pipes and the total is increasing year by year.

Fuel at £1.10 a litre is £5 a gallon and, even allowing for the weak dollar, the current price of $1.10 for a barrel of crude oil is set to rise as oil production peaks and demand rises throughout the world.

In addition, there are the increases in road fund tax for larger vehicles, congestion charges and the promise of road-pricing in the future.

However, there is some good news. It is possible to increase the miles from each gallon by at least 20 per cent. It means driving in a thoughtful manner. Not only does this save money but it also reduces the amount of CO2 produced and ensures that the finite amount of crude oil available will last longer.

All drivers need to do is:

• Put the seat belt on before turning the ignition key.

• Drive off immediately after starting the engine - it is not necessary to warm it up.

• Get into the highest gear as soon as possible.

• Accelerate gently.

• Don't drive aggressively and so save nearly 30 per cent of the fuel used.

• Keep to the speed limits and so reduce fuel use by 12 per cent.

• Limit overtaking as it uses more fuel just to move up two places in the queue.

• Turn off the engine if not moving after ten seconds as modern fuel injection means that starting again uses less fuel than idling.

• Make sure that there is less air resistance by keeping the windows closed as long as possible and removing roof racks when not in use.

• Don't use the air conditioning if at all possible as it can waste up to four per cent of the fuel.

• Remove all unnecessary weight from the boot as there is a two per cent fuel penalty for every 40 kilos of extra weight.

• Limit braking by driving at a safe distance from the vehicle in front - that is about the same number of metres distance as the speed, so 40 metres at 40 mph.

• Keep the accelerator pressure the same when driving uphill, even though the speed falls, rather than aiming to maintain speed as this can use three times as much fuel.

• Limit the speed. Driving at 60mph uses 21 per cent more fuel than at 50, 35 per cent more at 70mph, and almost 50 per cent more at 80mph.

• Keep the tyres at the highest recommended pressure to reduce the rolling resistance and so fuel use by ten per cent.

• Using the car less, or getting a smaller one would certainly help reduce the CO2 and save money as would a national speed limit of 55 mph.

An enforced lower speed limit... and banning Top Gear is the way forward.

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