On the road
By smarter driving you could cut your car's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around 8% [Source: direct.gov.uk] saving you up to £220 a year in petrol or diesel. [Source: Energy Saving Trust].
Ways you can make your travel more eco-friendly:
Go public
Travel on public transport whenever you can. It uses up just half the fuel you'd have used by taking the car on the same journey. [Source: Transport trends report, Independence Educational Publishers]
Lighten your load
Simply by removing anything from the boot of your car that you don't need for your journey, especially heavy loads, you'll use less fuel to get about.
Burn calories instead of fuel
Short car journeys cause more pollution because your engine hasn't had time to reach its most efficient operating temperature. So, next time you're popping down to the shops, why not take a walk or hop on your bike? And remember, most insurers will take your annual mileage into account when calculating premiums.
Drop the drop-offs
If the school is too far for the kids to walk, sharing the school-run with other parents is a great way to ease congestion and reduce CO2 emissions. Click here for more information.
Check your tyre pressures
Driving on under inflated tyres can add 2% to your fuel costs. Your tyres also have a direct effect on the car's steering, braking and acceleration. So it pays to check the air pressure on all your car's tyres regularly, making sure that they are pumped up to the correct level shown in your manual. [Source: RAC]
Recycle that oil
It only takes one litre of oil to pollute a million litres of fresh drinking water. So, if you do service your own car and change your own oil, then please be sure to dispose of the waste oil at your nearest recycling centre. [Source: Scottish Oil campaign]
Buying a new car? Go for the green one
The most fuel-efficient car in its class could save you up to three months' worth of fuel every year. [Source: direct.gov.uk]
Driving at an appropriate speed
Staying at or within the speed limit increases driver safety (see our own road safety campaign at www.2young2die.org.uk). It also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on your petrol costs. At 70mph you could be using up to 9 per cent more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15 per cent more fuel than at 50mph. [Source: direct.gov.uk]
Avoid over-revving
Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they're switched on. So revving up only wastes fuel and increases engine wear. Changing up a gear a little earlier can also reduce revs. If you drive a diesel car, try changing up a gear when the rev counter reaches 2000rpm. For a petrol car, change up at 2500rpm. [Source: direct.gov.uk]
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