Tips & Tricks for Economy Driving From SharpDrive

This month SharpDrive online fleet driver training offer tips and tricks for economy driving – reducing your fuel bill and lowering your carbon footprint.

 

The SharpDrive team recommend safe driving skills will save fuel and tires and an economical driver is also a safer driver. The first step in economy driving is planning. Ask yourself, “Is this trip necessary? Can we car pool? What is the shortest route? What is the best time to travel” What else can I do on this trip?”

 

Preparation saves money, and regular servicing keeps the engine running at its most efficient. Tire pressures and wheel alignment should be checked regularly as an extra 2-3 PSI saves a lot. Roof racks create a lot of drag so should be removed when not in use – don’t waste energy carrying unnecessary weight around.

 

Watch for and anticipate traffic and light changes, and speed limit changes are most important. Excessive idling wastes fuel so turn the engine off when appropriate. Don’t accelerate hard; move gently with a smooth progressive acceleration. Keeping the vehicle rolling slowly is much more economical than a standing start.

 

Maintain a safe following distance and use it to smooth your driving. Let momentum carry the vehicle over hills, working with gravity not against it. Ease back prior to corners and don’t speed. Going from 100-110 kph uses at least 13% more fuel. Don’t use cruise control. It was designed for long, flat straights and reacts to speed only, not terrain, so it breaks and accelerates without regard to economy.

 

Watch your instruments and keep revs down around 3000 for petrol and 1800-2200 for diesel. Air conditioning uses up to 10% more fuel so only use when needed and keep windows up. Climate controls are on by default so turn it off unless really needed. However, aircon is more efficient than the drage caused by having the windows down at speed.

 

It comes as no surprise to learn that 92% of SharpDrive course participants believe they are a better driver as a result of completing the SharpDrive course, so to find out more about SharpDrive’s driver training  and their advanced driving skills course, please go to http://www.sharpdrive.co/