USING CARS BETTER
Car exhaust fumes are a major source of air pollution and the best way to reduce this pollution is to use cars less. However if you do decide to drive, you can still do your bit to help clean up the air. By making some changes to the way you drive and the car you drive, you can do the same amount of miles on less fuel! As well as helping the environment, using less fuel will save you money!
Top Tips to Drive Down Pollution
The way you drive:
Don't over-rev the engine, particularly when starting your vehicle.
Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid acceleration and heavy breaking, and use the minimum acceleration needed.
Slow down. Driving at higher speeds significantly increases fuel consumption, pollution, and increases your risk of having an accident. On faster roads, doing 50mph can use 25% less fuel than 70 mph.
Use higher gears as soon as traffic conditions allow. Be prepared to skip gears (up and down) to suit your speed and the terrain.
Switch off the engine when idling. Idling engines burn fuel and waste money.
Cold starts. A car warms up faster when it is moving. Don't sit and wait for the car to warm up - drive off as soon as possible after starting.
Use air-conditioning sparingly. It is a drain on the car's engine and can increase fuel consumption by up to 20%. On not-so-hot days or in stop-start traffic, wind down the window or use the air vents instead.
Look after your vehicle:
Regular servicing helps keep the engine at its best efficiency.
Check your tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres will increase your fuel consumption.
Use the right fuel. Do not put lead-replacement petrol into a vehicle designed for unleaded fuel; it will damage the catalyst.
Minimise drag. Roof or rear mounted racks, and driving with windows open, increases wind resistance and the amount of fuel you use. So wind your window up and remove racks if you're not using them.
Travel light. Extra weight increases the amount of fuel you use. Check the boot regularly and take out what you don't need.
The car you drive:
If you're buying a new (or second-hand) car choose:
A smaller,more fuel efficient model. You'll save money on fuel bills, tax and insurance, and reduce emissions.
A car with a catalytic converter. Older cars without CATS can pollute more than 10 times as much as a new car.
A fuel-economic car. The fuel economy of similar-sized cars using the same type of fuel can vary by as much as 45%. The ETA Car Buyer's Guide clearly lists the environmental performance of over 800 cars. Visit www.eta.co.uk or try the Vehicle Certfication Agency
Type of Fuel:Petrol and diesel engines emit different levels of different pollutants. Neither fuel is ‘cleaner' but diesel engines are more fuel-efficient than petrol so produce less Carbon Dioxide (a greenhouse gas).
LPG, electric and hybrid vehicles. Converting a petrol car to LPG could save you more than £500 per year on fuel costs as well as reducing pollution levels. There are also a number of electric and hybrid cars on the market with very low running costs.
Car-sharing
Car-sharing is an excellent way too cut down pollution and save money. For more information visit our car-sharing page.