Did you know you could have saved a considerable sum of money at the petrol pump by changing your driving habits? No matter the type of car you drive, good driving habits have a direct contribution in an improved fuel economy saving money and the planet at the same time. The following tips can help.
Go easy on the accelerator
The harder you press on the accelerator, the more fuel you consume. You may conserve a lot of fuel in the city by going easy your accelerator pedal. To improve your fuel efficiency, take about 5 seconds to accelerate your car to 20 km/hr from rest. You can just imagine having an open can of Pepsi on your dashboard. Just be careful about not spilling the drink, and you will be sorted.
Try to maintain a consistent speed
Be steady with your speed. Unintentional speed dips and unexpected bursts of acceleration may take a huge toll on your tank and wallet. Research has shown that keeping your speed between 75 kilometers per hour and 85 kilometers per hour every 18 seconds can decrease your fuel efficiency by about 20%. So here are the things you can do keep this issue under check:
- Consider going cruise control while you are on a highway.
- When traffic permits, allow your speed to drop while travelling uphill and then regain your momentum while rolling downhill.
Anticipate the rush of traffic
Plan your driving maneuvers well in advance in order to maintain the momentum of your vehicle. Read the road ahead, anticipate disruptions, monitor pedestrian movements and other vehicles keeping a comfortable breathing space between your car and the one in front of you. These techniques will help you maintain a steady speed and avoid safety risks and unnecessary fuel consumption.
Stay within the speed limit
Avoid high speeds. Most vehicles operate the best when travelling between 50 to 80 kilometers per hour. Above this speed zone, fuel consumption increases by a lot. For example, A car running at 120 km/hour will use around 20% more fuel than the one at 100km/hour. So, try not to hurry up by a lot unless you are constrained to do so. High- speed driving is also quite unsafe because you would not have adequate time on your hands to respond to hazardous situations. So tread carefully.
Decelerate slowly
You, as a driver, often need to apply the brakes to bring your car to a stop. However, by anticipating the movement of traffic from an earlier point in time, you can slow down eventually and save a whole lot of fuel in the process. Most vehicles, today, come with a fuel injection system that automatically closes down the flow of fuel to the engine when the accelerator’s released. In this case, the vehicle decelerates slowly to a stop (AKA coasting) using no fuel during the whole time. This decelerating process can save you a whole lot of fuel and money, and can also reduce wear and tear on your brakes and tyres at the same time. With that, we’ll sign off finally for the day.
Hope you had a good read. To know more about fuel-saving tips, in general, refer to the infographic below.
Source- Visually [Created by Plates4Less]
