Here are six good tips you can follow which will improve your road safety and reduce your fuel consumption and emissions.
- Always identify the hazards early and plan your approach. Crucial…identifying hazards early will allow “time to react” , an important element in road safety today. Allowing plenty of “time to react” will ensure you have the space to think. You will be able to make your acceleration and braking more smooth and progressive while maintaining plenty space around your vehicle, keeping the driving calm.
- Drive at an appropriate speed for varying road conditions. The roads and conditions change all the time, it’s important you pay attention to them. If you ensure your speed is suitable for the road, traffic and varying weather conditions, this will in turn affect your fuel consumption for the better.
- Choosing the correct gears. It is not necessary to change up and down through each and every gear as you go, it is possible to skip out “intermediate” gears (block changing). As soon as the road conditions allow it is better to use the highest gear possible so long as you don’t make the engine struggle or this will create a counter-productive effect to economy and safety.
It’s important to note at this point that when choosing the correct gear for any circumstances, road safety should always be your priority – never sacrifice your safety over choosing a gear for economy! - Keep the revs down…Over revving the engine not only increases the wear and tear on your vehicle but spits out loads of poisonous gasses harmful to just about everything we know of.
Avoid over revving when starting the engine, sitting still and moving away! - Acceleration sense. Every time you press the gas pedal you will use fuel, and use this pedal wisely. Use the accelerator smoothly and progressively and when appropriate (see No.1) ease your foot off the gas and allow deceleration/momentum to take your vehicle forward. This will provide more favourable Eco-safe results rather than accelerating, braking, accelerating, braking…The biggest enemy to fuel economy are your brakes!
- Switching off! Starting the car uses as much fuel as idling for 10 seconds. Sitting with an idling engine at the traffic lights burns precious fuel, and is adding to the CO2 and poisonous emissions harmful to all those around us. If you know you’ll be sitting for longer than 10 seconds it’s time to switch off and avoid your wasting money and energy!
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Tags: driving economically, Driving Techniques, driving tips, eco, learning to drive, pass the driving test
