If you have a vehicle, you’ve been hit with higher-than-normal petrol and diesel prices over the last few months. As well as energy bills and food prices increasing, we’ve been faced with expensive costs at the forecourts. You might have already changed your habits to do with when, where and how much you fill up your car. Did you know that how you drive can impact your fuel usage in the car? Let’s have a look at which driving technique can help you save fuel.
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How To Drive To Save Fuel
When we ask the question of which driving technique can help you save fuel, it’s important to not just focus on one thing. There are numerous ways to save fuel when we drive.
Drive Sensibly
You need to drive both safely and sensibly. No one wants to see you accelerating like you’re at Brands Hatch when the light turns green. Steady acceleration and using the highest possible gear within the speed limit will help you get the most from the fuel in your tank. Give yourself plenty of time to get to where you want to be. If you are rushing, you are less likely to drive efficiently.
Maintain Your Vehicle
When was the last time you checked your vehicle over? Yes many of us have our car serviced when it has its annual MOT, however, things need to be kept on top of more regularly. If your tyre pressure isn’t correct, you will b using more fuel to drive around. Mechanical issues can mean you are burning more fuel than you need to. Get to know your vehicle, maybe watch a few #YouTube videos on the basics and check over your car more regularly.
Anticipate What’s Happening On The Road Ahead
When you are driving, how far do you look ahead? We need to anticipate what is going to happen ahead of us. This can help us to stop using the brake so much, meaning you don’t need to use fuel to build up the speed again. Of course, we all come across red lights and traffic jams, but if you can judge the gap at the roundabout, you can get into that gap without having to come to a full stop. If you spot a hill up ahead, increase your speed slightly and then lay off the gas a little when you are going up the hill. It’s all about momentum and you can save fuel by getting a handle on the road.
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Declutter Your Car
The heavier your car, the more fuel you will use to move it around. So if you have a boot full of stuff you mean to take to the charity shop two months ago, you’ve been spending money on fuel to drive it around. If you don’t have the kids with you, leave the pushchair at home. Take some time every month or so to clear out rubbish and take out things you don’t need to be driving around with. Remove that top box if you aren’t using it. It’s so easy to leave it on there between holidays but once removed, it’ll be a big weight off your vehicle and also improve your aerodynamics.
Use Air Con Wisely
Whilst it might be a really hot day, did you know that air conditioning uses your fuel? Whilst you might want to crank it up, open all the windows beofe you set off so you can get air flowing and remove some of the warmth. That means it’ll be colder in the card so you’ll need less energy to start feeling cool. Be sure to use the re-circulate option too as it will minimise the cost. This goes for heating as well. So be sure to dress for the weather you are driving in.
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Plan Your Route & Combine Trips
How many times in a week do you go for a little drive? Try and plan ahead and combine trips to save on fuel. If you usually go to the post office, supermarket and round to friends during the week, try and combine them into one journey. That means you’ll eliminate a bit of the travel from home. Even bringing what might be 15 miles in a week down to 10 will make a difference. That’s 40 miles rather than 60 miles travelled in a four-week period. You can also check for congestion on your route before you set off.
Drive Less
Perhaps the ultimate tip when looking at which driving technique can help you save fuel, is to drive less. So many car journeys are for trips that could be walked. Plan a little bit more and give yourself time to walk those shorter trips. We’re not saying to walk the 60-mile round trip that you need to do at the weekend, but if you do those shorter journeys by foot, you’ll save both fuel and money.
Final Thoughts
When you start questioning which driving technique can help you save fuel, you need to look at the bigger picture. Every trip in the car costs us money so now is the time to start driving more fuel efficiently. Implement more than just one of these ideas and you’ll start to see the benefits sooner.
