Tips for drivers on how to save money and cut pollution
Think before you drive
Before you use your car ask yourself:-
- Do I really need to make this journey?
- Could I combine several trips rather than making lots of short trips or share a car? Short journeys (less than 2 miles) when the engine is cold pollute up to 60% more per mile than when the engine is hot.
- Could I walk, cycle or take the bus or train instead of taking the car?
In Hammersmith & Fulham there are a quarter of a million car trips per week of less than 2 miles. That short journey might be ideal for walking or cycling.
Around 70% of the population are not active enough to stay fit. 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days per week is enough to cut the risk of heart disease and diabetes by 50% and substantially reduce levels of blood pressure and stress. A simple way of doing this is to walk or cycle for short journeys.
Out of 10 car trips, could you make one by any other means?
If every driver did this it would cut traffic to the levels seen in the school holidays.
Road traffic is the biggest source of air pollution in London.
More than 1,000 people die each year in London due to poor air quality and several thousand others suffer serious health impacts such as breathing difficulties. It is also estimated that as many as a million people experience less serious effects.
You may think that you can t do much to help but if all drivers do a little bit to reduce pollution this will add up to a noticeable change -YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
What can I do to help?
- Reducing the number of miles driven is by far the best way to reduce pollution.
- If every car in Hammersmith & Fulham were driven 5 miles less per week it would remove more than 10 million miles of traffic off the roads each year.
- Could you cut your mileage by 5 miles per week?
Top Tips to Drive Down Pollution.
The way you drive:-
- Be a good driver. Following these basic economy driving skills could cut emissions and save you around 30%in fuel costs (the equivalent of 25p on every litre of fuel you use).
- Don't over-rev the engine, particularly when starting your vehicle.
- Drive smoothly. Driving aggressively causes more pollution, will increase your risk of having an accident and will cost you more in fuel. Avoid rapid acceleration and heavy braking, and use the minimum acceleration necessary, even in a traffic jam.
- Remember - accelerate smoothly, brake gently.
- Slow down, driving at higher speeds significantly increases fuel consumption, pollution and increases your risk of having an accident.
- Obey the speed limits. On faster roads, doing 50 mph can use 25% less fuel than 70 mph. Driving at 90 mph can use 60%more fuel than doing 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. Sitting stationary is zero miles per gallon, switch off the engine whenever it is safe to do so.
- 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 (AC) sparingly. AC is a drain on the cars engine and can increase fuel consumption by up to 20%. On not so hot days and in stop start traffic wind down the window or use the air vents instead.
Look after your vehicle:-
- Check your fuel consumption - it will help you get the most from the car. A reduction usually means there is a problem.
- Regular servicing helps keep the engine at its best efficiency. This is important as drivers can now be stopped by the police to have their vehicle's emissions checked at the roadside. High emissions can result in a fine.
- Check your tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres will increase your fuel bills and increase emissions.
- 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.
Following this advice will help you do your bit to improve local air quality. It will also help reduce CO 2 a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
The car you drive If you're buying a new (or second-hand) car choose:
- A smaller more fuel-efficient model and save money on fuel bills, tax and insurance, and reduce emissions.
- A car with a catalytic converter (CAT). (Generally fitted to all petrol cars K reg and newer). 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 Buyers' Guide clearly lists the environmental performance of over 800 cars, (Price £5) phone ETA (01932) 828 882 or visit www.eta.co.uk. Or for a free booklet phone the Vehicle Certification Agency (0117) 951 5151 or visit www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk.
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 CO 2 (a greenhouse gas).
- 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. The Powershift programme could help cover the costs of converting vehicles to alternative fuels. For more information phone 0845 602 1425 or log on to www.transportaction.org.uk.
- There are 2 BP connect service stations in the borough where LPG is available to motorists -Hammersmith Flyover, Talgarth Road (westbound) and Shepherd's Bush Green (southside). Check www.lpga.co.uk for more information on LPG vehicles and refuelling stations.
