The Energy Saving Trust’s Jos Mister runs through a series of tips, which involve making only minor changes to a motorist’s driving style – known as ‘smarter driving.’

Change up gears early. “We recommend changing between 2,000 and 2,500 revs per minute – that means the engine does not have to work so hard so it will be more fuel-efficient.



Cut your speed. Doing 65mph rather than 70 on a motorway can reduce your fuel consumption by ten per cent, and driving at 50mph will cut it by 15 per cent. Going over the speed limit, for instance driving at 85mph, uses around 25 per cent more fuel than at 70mph.



Read the road ahead of you. Anticipate as far ahead as possible to avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.



Drive away immediately. When you start your car from cold drive off straight away – ‘idling’ to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear. Says Jos: “Some people start the engine then spend a while doing up their seat belt, turning around to talk to their children, or checking their hair in the mirror. You should get in the habit of not turning the ignition key until you are ready to set off – it is a lot more efficient and will save a lot of fuel and reduce emissions.”



Use foot-off cruising. Step off the accelerator, but remain in gear, as early as possible when slowing down or driving downhill. Under these conditions a modern engine uses no fuel.



Turn off the engine in traffic jams. If you are sitting in a traffic jam and waiting for more than a minute, don’t ‘idle’ the engine – turn it off. Modern cars – those less than ten years old – use virtually no extra fuel when re-started.



Use the air conditioning sparingly. At motorway speeds, air conditioning increases fuel consumption by between three and four per cent. Says Jos: “It is an electrical device and is using some fuel, so when it is on, you will do less miles to the gallon than when it is off. Obviously, if it is a roasting hot day you should not sit and bake, but there are times when you may have it on when it is not needed.”



Check your tyre pressure. Not just for safety, but under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption by up to three per cent.



Remove rooftop boxes and racks. These can affect a car’s aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency. Says Jos: “At 70mph a rooftop box can add 30 per cent to fuel consumption”.



Plan journeys in advance to avoid congestion, road works and the possibility of getting lost.



Avoid short journeys. A cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel, and catalytic converters can take as much as five miles to become effective.