A sensible and socially responsible approach to a problem

We all realise that at times, public transport can be much more environmentally friendly because it can transport a large number of people at any one time, however, practicalities dictate that public transport is not always the best option depending on certain factors. It is therefore important that when driving a vehicle, we should all be responsible and do our best to ensure we drive as safely and economically as possible.

Here are some sensible driving techniques that will help reduce CO2 emissions and save money.

It is stated that under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance when your car is moving which means your engine has to work harder, therefore, more fuel is used and more CO2 emissions are produced.

A recent article published in well know motoring magazine, put this to the test and found the saving was negligible. Nevertheless, tyres must be correctly inflated as this will ensure your car has the best grip. Over-inflated tyres can be unsafe due to having less grip on the road. Tyres that are not correctly inflated will wear too quickly and become damaged, this will end up costing more money to replace, reason alone to make sure they are correctly inflated.

Always check and adjust tyre pressures regularly, this will also help to increase the life of your tyres. When checking your tyre pressures do so when the tyre is cold as this will be more accurate. . Finally a vehicle with a heavier load may need different air pressure in the tyres as well as a vehicle driving at motorway speeds over long distances, so ensure you read the owners manual for the correct tyre pressures.

The more a vehicle weighs the more work the engine has to do. By removing unnecessary weight you could reduce your engine's workload; this will burn less fuel and cut your CO2 emissions. Unload any items you do not need for your journey before you set out, such as roof racks, storage boxes and files.

Keeping your fuel tank constantly full to the brim will greatly increase fuel consumption as the extra weight means you need to depress the accelerator harder to achieve power. . A vehicle with a 60-80 litre tank which is full weighs the equivalent of an additional 10-13 stone person in your vehicle. In an urban environment, you will normally never be more than 20 minutes from a petrol station so if it is only short journeys you do, just fill the tank ¼ or ½ full. For long journeys and on motorways you must ensure you have enough fuel for your journey.

Driving at a steady constant speed also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on your fuel costs. At 70mph you could be using up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more fuel than at 50mph. keeping your speed at 50mph will keep the CO2 emissions down.

We all have schedules to keep; speed limits are the maximum lawful speeds which may be driven in ideal circumstances, drivers’ must never exceed the speed limit, staying at or within the speed limit increases safety for us all.

Safety must always remain paramount; therefore driving at 40 or 50mph to save fuel but causing traffic to be held up when it is legal and safe to drive faster is dangerous and must be avoided as it may cause the drivers behind to overtake in an unsafe position. Driving far too slowly for the conditions may also be illegal.

Every time you come to a halt and move off again in traffic queues and traffic lights, the engine uses more fuel and therefore produces more CO2. Come off the accelerator early to save fuel.

Keep an eye on the traffic ahead, anticipate and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator whilst keeping the car in gear, use your mirrors early too and gently press the brake so the drivers behind see your brake lights. By decelerating earlier the traffic lights may change or the traffic ahead may have started moving by the time you reach the vehicle in front meaning you stop less. The mark of a good driver is someone that anticipates ahead and only stops the car when it is really necessary; however, if you have to stop and wait then you must do so.

If you do need to stop and wait, the longer you remain stationary with the engine idling, the more fuel you will use, this will increase the CO2 emissions.

If you're likely to be at a standstill for more than 3 minutes, such as level crossings or in heavy traffic simply switch off the engine, an engine that is idling for 5 minutes uses the same amount of fuel as a 1km drive. Restarting the engine will not use more fuel as some people may think.

Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving the engine only wastes fuel and increases engine wear and CO2 emissions. It is stated that you should change gears at 2000 revs for petrol engines and 2500 revs for diesel engines.

You must always use the highest gear available for the road and traffic conditions as well as the power requirements of the situation. Modern vehicles and gears are designed to accommodate block or selective changes both up and down through the gears; the need to change through the gears consecutively is not needed normally. Changing from 2nd gear to 4th gear, 3rd to 5th or 2nd to 5th when appropriate will not only reduce the number of gear changes needed during the journey, it will also reduce wear and tear on the clutch mechanism as well, therefore prolonging the life of this item.

Changing gears in this way will also improve fuel economy by using the higher gear earlier. Changing up too early will be detrimental to fuel economy because you will need to accelerate harder to make the progress and it will take longer to reach the speed you require. Changing gears at 2000 or 2500 revs can be very dangerous if you emerge from a junction with a vehicle fast approaching. Safety is always paramount.

Utilise Cruise Control whenever possible.

In modern vehicles, Cruise Control can be used as low as 18-22 mph. When at a constant speed, the computer and engine management system can control the rate of fuel being injected into the engine much better than your right foot, which will always have slight fluctuations. Again only use driving aids like these when safe to do so.

Reduce your use of air-conditioning will reduce your CO2 emissions.

Air-conditioning is sometimes seen as an enemy of fuel economy, however not using the air-conditioning or climate control to safe fuel could be a disaster at certain times. The driver must be alert at all times and if they are too hot, they can become fatigued and this could cause a driver to lose concentration. Air-condition/ climate control can also ensure that the windows stay free from misting-up in wet and cold conditions, ensuring a driver is alert and that they can see is more important than saving a few pennies.

Keeping your windows open whist driving at high speed will actually increase your fuel consumption due to the drag co-efficiency, using the air conditioning at high speeds can be more fuel efficient than having windows open.

Finally, have your driving assessed. It may have been some years since you past your test, which may have been taken in a vehicle with technology that did not match today’s modern engines.

The skills you were taught at the time, and have developed ever since you passed were probably correct at the time. Technologies and techniques change, ensure your driving techniques match the needs of your modern vehicle.

FleetCSR has specially trained advanced instructors who have thorough knowledge of the latest eco-positive driving techniques for the modern vehicle. With one of our specially structured training sessions you will have your present driving technique assessed over a predetermined route and your fuel economy will be recorded. You will then receive advice, guidance and a demonstration from your advance instructor. You will then complete a second run and your fuel economy will be recorded again.

The second run should, depending on road and traffic conditions, show an improvement in fuel consumption and a reduction in CO2 emissions. On average, participants have not only recorded a fuel saving of around 5-8% on the second run, but have also reduced the amount of gear changes by as much as 35% and increased their average speed by 5mph without breaking speed limits yet still remaining safe. On top of that, consumables such as clutches, brake pads and discs will be used less and more sympathetically, which should further reduce the expense of running a fleet of vehicles.

For individuals this will be a substantial saving when implemented over a 12 month period. For companies and fleet managers, expenditure will be reduced and this will also dramatically help your company reach the government target to reduce CO2 emissions leaving less need for carbon off-setting.

To book an individual training session in one of our vehicles or to arrange a non-obligation appointment to discuss our services, your company’s and fleet drivers needs please call FleetCSR on 020 8916 2218.