A Contributed Post: Seven Tips for the Environmentally Conscious Driver

Driving gives you the freedom to get where you want to go, whenever you want. However, many of us aren’t aware of the impact driving has on our environment and aren’t ready to make the sacrifices necessary to reduce our impact on the ecosystem. But there are a few things everybody can do to reduce pollution easily without compromising their lifestyles. If you want to become an eco-friendly driver, here are a few tips to help reduce your carbon footprint.

1. Reduce Engine Idling Time

Next time you’re dropping someone off, waiting at the junction for a train to pass, or just sitting in static traffic, shut down your engine until you are ready to move again. Unless you’re driving an ancient relic of a car, stopping and restarting your engine will not consume more petrol and will greatly reduce your carbon emissions.

2. Use the Nearest Parking Spot Possible

Too often, you’ll find people driving around searching for the cheapest deals on parking fees. However, each additional minute of driving means more carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The most sensible thing to do is to station your vehicle near a spot and wait for people to move their vehicles.

3. Turn off the Air Conditioning

Running your car’s air conditioner uses extra petrol and it’s always better to use it sporadically. As a tip, you could switch your air conditioner off somewhere around 5 to 10 minutes before you reach your destination. In the meantime, you can leave the fan on to circulate cool air into the car.

4. Drive Slowly

If you slow down and drive moderately, you can reduce your car’s emissions by as much as 20%. To reduce your engine’s output, accelerate moderately and use your brakes wisely. To avoid pounding the accelerator and slamming the brakes constantly, always be aware of the traffic around you. And whatever you do, always remember to keep within the speed limit.

But in order to understand speed limits, good knowledge of signalisation is a must. Resources like Toptests offer many free tests on signalisation that will allow you to make better sense of speed limits in different zones. For more information on the Highway Code, click here to visit toptests.co.uk.

5. Inflate Your Tyres Properly

Under Inflated tyres can increase your car’s fuel consumption by as much as 6%. Low pressure in your car tyres mean low litres per mile and reduced tyre efficiency. You should therefore inspect your tyres at every opportunity to ensure that they are properly inflated before driving off.

6. Maintain Your Car

A well maintained car will prove more economical compared to a poorly maintained one. The engine should always be topped with oil, which ensures proper lubrication of the internal components. Always ensure that your car is serviced according to the manufacturer’s schedule.

7. Skip Gears

When conditions allow, you can skip gears in order to save fuel. For instance, if you shift to the fifth gear from third, your transmission will not be overworked and you can save petrol. Similarly, when you’re slowing down, you don’t have to go through all the gears in turn. The highest gear should be used on roads and conditions that allow.

If you can follow the above tips, you can reduce your carbon footprint and play your part in protecting the environment and also save money in the process. Simply put, eco-driving should start making small changes to the way you drive in order to reduce the impact your driving has on the environment.