Tips to save fuel, money and emissions while driving on your Irish staycation
Staycations are back
With Irish staycations gaining popularity once again, many of us are hopping into the cars and heading off on holiday, cutting down on air miles and reducing our carbon footprint. For those who haven't switched to an electric vehicle yet and are still driving a petrol or diesel car, we have some tips to help you drive more efficiently. This will help you use less fuel, reduce your emissions and stay safe on the roads.
Fuel consumption tends to be affected most by your driving style, excessive rapid acceleration, unnecessary short trips, a cold engine, poor car maintenance and incorrect tyre pressure. A less aggressive, energy conscious driving style could save as much as 10% on your fuel costs.
Follow these tips and you’ll be on the road to success:
Regular maintenance
This tip applies all the time but is especially important ahead of a long journey or a driving holiday. A properly maintained petrol or diesel car will have; good engine lubrication, wheel alignment and well-adjusted brakes, reducing your fuel use. It will also mean your car is safer and more reliable.
Read the road
By watching the road ahead and anticipating any likely problems, your driving will become smoother, more controlled and safer for all. Drive in as high a gear as is suitable to road conditions and at bends, reduce your speed gently and accelerate smoothly when you are halfway through to help reduce fuel use.
Avoid idling
Once you turn the engine on, drive off gently without delay. This will reduce excessive fuel consumption and pollution. Even if you're waiting only 30 seconds, it is more economical to switch the engine off and start it again when necessary. Incidentally, many newer cars have an automatic stop/start function, which means you don't have to think about this.
Reduce unnecessary drag
After you arrive safely at your destination, make sure to take off any unused bike racks or roof boxes; this can save as much as 20% on your fuel costs. You can save a further 3-5% by using the car's air-conditioning to cool down rather than leaving the windows open while you drive.
Avoid short journeys
A cold engine uses significantly more fuel than a warm engine. So, once you reach your staycation destination opt to walk or cycle where you can and avoid using your car for short journeys.
Tyre condition and pressure
Be sure to check your tyres regularly. Tyres in good condition, with the proper thread depth, and at the right pressure, improve both safety and fuel consumption. Tyres that are 10% below recommended pressure can increase fuel consumption by around 2%.
Learn more about tyre safety in the video below:
