Top tips for eco driving

In 2020, looking after the environment is more important than ever before. With news that the UK government plans to implement several Clean Air Zones for drivers across the country, as well as banning all petrol and diesel cars by 2035, we all need to do our best to reduce our carbon emissions. In this article, used Corsa dealership Motorparks have given us their top tips for eco driving.

Stay within the speed limit

Staying within the legal speed limit will help conserve your fuel. It’s estimated that you will notice a 10-15% improvement in fuel economy if you travel at 55mph instead of 65mph. However, going too slow will also have a negative effect. Travelling below 15mph means that your vehicle is emitting the most pollution. It is because of this that cities began introducing congestion zones to try to lower a huge build up of traffic in busy areas.

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As you approach traffic lights, you should take care to focus on the road. By hard braking or quickly accelerating, either to get through traffic lights or by moving off as it turns to green, you could find that you are cutting your fuel efficiency by a third. Sudden or jerky movements also put your engine under unnecessary strain which will no doubt lessen its life expectancy. If you’re on a major motorway, put your vehicle in cruise control if you’re able to. This will make sure that you stay at an economical speed and help you use less fuel.

Be careful when you change gears

You also need to take care when changing gears. It’s recommended that you change between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm as this can help to reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 15% — thus releasing less toxicity into the atmosphere.

In the past, vehicles weren’t as economical as they are now with their increased weight and braking systems meaning gear changing was more of a necessity to help slow the car down. Now, it’s possible to slow without going down the gears, meaning that to drive economically, we don’t have to move through the gears one by one. If you have a car made post 2014, you will notice your model has a gear shift indicator which works to encourage use of the most efficient gear.

Drive lighter

It may seem like our car boot is constantly at full capacity. While this may seem innocent, it can actually affect your miles per gallon. This is because the heavier your vehicle is, the more fuel you’ll consume. Simply put, if you don’t need it in your car for your journey, take it out!

Keep your tyre pressure topped up

Taking care of your tyres helps ensure that your car is performing at its peak. Over-inflation is just as bad as allowing them to be too deflated. The pressure of your tyres can be impacted by the change of seasons to, so be sure to regularly check them. Investing in tyre care will also increase the tyre’s lifespan, which will save you money as you won’t need to replace them as quickly due to worn tread.

Take care with gadgets

Consider your gadgets – do you really need everything running at the same time? If not, turn them off. This will be wasting unnecessary energy and make you less eco-friendly. The same goes with your air-con. Using your air conditioning system at a low speed will increase your fuel consumption. The higher speeds you go, however, the less you’ll notice this effect. When possible, choose to open your windows instead.

Following these tips will help you cut your fuel consumption, which in turn will help you lower the negative effect your driving may be having on the environment. Of course, there are many other ways to take care of both your car and the environment, so it’s vital you drive in a sensible manner at all times.