Eco Driving

Top Ten Driving Tips 

1. Drive off immediately. Modern cars are designed to move straight away. Warming up the engine just wastes fuel - and actually causes engine wear.

2. Check your revs and change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) or 2,000rpm (diesel).

3. Anticipate road conditions so that you drive smoothly and avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.

4. Step off the accelerator. When slowing down or driving downhill, remain in gear but take your foot off the accelerator early. This reduces fuel flow to the engine to virtually zero.

5. Slow down. Driving within the speed limit is safer, stays within the law, and reduces fuel consumption. 

6. Turn off the engine if you're going to be stationary for more than a minute or two.

7. Plan ahead. Plan journeys to avoid congestion and road works, and to avoid wasting fuel by getting lost. For information on congestion and roadworks go to the Traffic Wales website or BBC Travel Pages

8. Use other forms of transport for short journeys, wherever possible. A cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel as a warm one, and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective.

9. Accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers and roof boxes significantly affect a car's aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remove them when not in use.

10. Check tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and increase fuel consumption

Taken from the Energy Savings Trust