Well let’s face it, the best way to eco-drive is to not drive at all! And with fuel prices rising all the time, that doesn’t sound like too bad an option! However, that said, eco-driving or smart driving could save you up to £190 a year in petrol or diesel, not to mention the associated reduction in harmful emissions from your vehicle.

Changing your driving style and learning to eco-drive is easy and something we can all do overnight. Once you’ve mastered it, not only will you start to make real savings, but you’ll also be doing your bit for the environment.

Eco-driving really only means driving your car more efficiently. Doing this means your car will produce less carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas contributing to climate change.

Remember to follow the steps below and you’ll soon be saving money and reducing your car’s impact on the environment:

1. Check your revs – change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) and 2,000rpm (diesel).
2. Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.
3. Use air conditioning sparingly as it significantly increases fuel consumption.
4. The most efficient speed depends upon the car in question but is typically around 45 – 50mph. Faster speed will greatly increase your fuel consumption.
5. Drive away immediately when starting from cold – idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear.
6. Accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers, and roof boxes significantly affect your car’s aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remember to remove them when not in use.
7. Avoid short journeys – a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective.
8. Plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost.
9. Check your tyre pressure regularly – under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.
10. If you’re stuck in a jam, switch the engine off if you expect to be there for more than a minute or two. Cutting the engine will save fuel and reduce emissions.

A good way to challenge yourself is to monitor your fuel usage and try to beat your previous record for mileage from a single tank of fuel and your associated miles per gallon (mpg).  If your car doesn’t have a fancy readout telling you how much fuel you’re using, download one of our sheets for recording and measuring your fuel usage.

Try adopting some of these techniques over the next few weeks and you’ll really start noticing the difference!  And without all the racing away from lights and harsh braking, you’ll find yourself having a much more pleasant and relaxing drive leaving you stress free at the end of your journey. You will also be less likely to have an accident as you’ll be more aware of what’s going on around you.