Vans, Cars and Leasing

Green driving could not only help the environment but also save drivers up to £100 each year in wasted fuel.

New RAC research shows that motorists who choose not to adopt ‘eco-driving’ contribute to a £2.2 billion wasted fuel bill each year.

The research shows that British motorists drive over five billion miles each year while lost.

In addition 60% of drivers aren’t aware that changing gear when revs are high can reduce fuel consumption, and 40% think that driving under 45mph always saves fuel.

A further 9% admit to checking their tyre pressure less than once a year, with 77% saying they are not aware that under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption.

The RAC findings also show that drivers are not sure which driving practices can save fuel:

A tenth wrongly believe that braking regularly will reduce fuel consumption
Nearly a sixth incorrectly think warming the engine up before moving off reduces fuel used

Over a quarter aren’t aware that switching off air conditioning significantly reduces fuel used
David Bizley, RAC’s technical director said: “With fuel prices at a record high, adopting eco driving techniques is an easy way to reduce fuel consumption.”

RAC has come up with the following hints and tips to help improve fuel efficiency and reduce cars’ impact on the environment:

1 - Pump up to cut down: under inflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving, which means engines have to work harder, so more fuel is used and more CO2 emissions are produced (the owner handbook will advise the correct pressure)

2 - Less clutter means less CO2: clutter in boots add weight and engines must work harder to transport it, so removing it can the engine’s workload and cut CO2 emissions (also remove roof boxes or rails when not in use the drag caused increases fuel consumption )

3 - Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO2: not only does staying at or within the speed limit increase driver safety, it also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on fuel costs

4 - Less stopping and starting means less CO2: anticipating traffic flow will reduce fuel consumption

5 - Over-revving accelerates emissions: modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position while standing still only wastes fuel and increases engine wear

6 - Idling is wasting fuel: if you’re likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, simply switch off the engine.

7 - Shop around: Use a fuel comparison website to find the best priced fuel in your region

8 - Don’t get lost: don’t waste fuel by going the wrong way – plan route before leaving with RAC Route Planner.

Tips for the Drivers Who Love Their Cars and Care For the Planet Too

We no longer find the world as cool as we used to find it in our childhood!

The earth is older and warmer—several places in the world do not experience snow fall in winter as before, the summers in many places have become too hot to bear. Rains don’t drench the lands the same way they used to do decades ago.

The earth is fighting a fierce battle of survival against the modern monster called “Global Warming”

The Green House Effect and its off spring global warming together are the byproducts of indiscriminate expansion of human civilization; more speed, higher performance, bigger production—-a need for more has made man much too dependent on machines.

Among all the machines, the motor car has been touted as the biggest contributor to the creation of pollution.

But we can’t do away completely with the cars. Returning to the ages of bicycles may make for the killer plot of a romantic novel, but it is definitely not practical.

So what do we do?

We have to think up ways to drive our cars in a way that make the least damage to our environment.

Act in a socially responsible manner

You don’t have to start your car engine every time you need to rush to the supermarket just a block away! It wastes a lot of fuel and adds more green house gases to the environment. Instead ride on your bicycle or just walk. The Japanese can teach the world a lesson in this respect—you will encounter more cyclists on a Tokyo road than any other parts of the world.

Another thing to learn from the Japanese in this respect is their well developed public transportation system based on the under ground railway network. Cutting down on private car usage and using public transport wherever you can is a great way to prevent further damage to your environment.

Be a responsible driver

Being a little bit careful while you drive can save a lot of precious fuel and prevent a new set of pollutants entering the air

Good planning makes you a truly green driver—choose your route to avoid congested roads. Consider covering as many as tasks possible in a single trip. Also try to share the car with your family members as well as your friends wherever possible.
Don’t rev up your car like crazy—you are not competing in a car race! Slow down to reduce fuel consumption. But drive on higher gears, as soon as traffic conditions allow.
Be caring about such parts of your car as accelerator, brake or clutch. Don’t be harsh on them—they will offer you better fuel efficiency.
Also try to drive light and switch off the engine whenever you are waiting for more than five minutes.
Also make sure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for the vehicle.
Cut down on luxury

Treat air conditioning as a luxury and not a necessity. Use it sparingly whenever it is absolutely essential to use it. Also make sure that onboard electrical devices don’t eat up the fuel unnecessary.

Consider the cars based on environment friendly technology

Driving a hybrid car or electric car is the best way to go green. In London, electric cars are exempt from road tax & congestion charging. Over all insurance premiums may also be lower for the hybrid cars.

You can also use bio fuel or LPG in place of petrol and diesel to lower the impact of green house gas emissions.

You love your car—but you feel sorry about your environment too. There is no need to suffer from a guilt complex just because you love driving. Keep the above mentioned tips in mind while driving and be a green driver.

At the heart of defensive driving is a driver’s ability to anticipate situations, including the mistakes of other drivers, especially during less-than-ideal driving conditions.

You may be an excellent driver and a master of road rules, but there’s nothing like a basic knowledge of defensive driving to minimize risks on the road.

Here are six of the most important defensive driving techniques:

1. Let other drivers know of your intentions early
Sudden stops, turns and lane changes often lead to accidents because they catch other drivers by surprise. Hence, one of the basic rules of defensive driving is to clearly communicate to other drivers exactly what you are about to do. For this reason, it is crucial that your brake lights, head lights, signal indicators and other driving lights are working. If they are not, have them checked right away. Otherwise, defensive driving is not an option.

2. Being predictable helps
Having all your indicators in good working order is great, but they won’t help much if you can’t be predictable. Defensive driving is synonymous with being predictable - you do what you’re expected to do. If you’re signaling a left turn, then make a left turn. Don’t signal that you’re going left then suddenly turn right. And, by no means, don’t keep signaling a left or right turn then just going straight ahead for miles and miles. In defensive driving, one never makes a move that confuses other drivers on the road. Surprises are great, but never when you’re driving.

3. Know where you want to go
The first rule of defensive driving is: know where you want to go. There’s nothing quite as dangerous as making a sudden turn or stop, which is something that drivers do when they are not sure about where they are headed. Ditto for driving slowly then suddenly zooming fast. If you’re confused about where you you want to go, you’re probably confusing other people on the road as well. If you’re lost, park your car and regain your bearings. Check a map or street directory or maybe even ask someone for directions. The worst thing you can do is drive around aimlessly. That’s like looking for trouble with a capital T.

4. Make signaling a habit
One of the best defensive driving techniques is to signal every time you turn or change lanes. That way, you never catch other drivers by surprise. Make signaling a habit. Even if the road appears to be deserted and there seem to be no other vehicles around, signaling your intent is always an excellent defensive driving practice.

5. Warn others as you stop or slow down
When making a full stop or slowing down for whatever reason, it’s a good defensive driving technique to let other drivers know of your intention. You can do this by tapping the brake pedal a couple of times so that your brake lights flash and clue in others behind you that you are slowing down or stopping. This is especially important if the driver behind you is driving fast and approaching quickly.

6. Try to anticipate the worst in others
It may sound cynical and ’s not a good rule to follow in life but, in defensive driving, it pays to anticipate the mistakes of other drivers on the road. For instance, many drivers routinely signal a turn but don’t turn at all. Meanwhile, others don’t signal at all and then suddenly turn. Many people disregard stop signals or try to run red traffic lights so keep a watchful eye out for these instances.

Serg Caro. So, don’t forget that a basic knowledge of Defensive Driving helps drivers substantially minimize risks on the road. Please feel free to ask questions concerning vehicle insurance at Car Insurance forum.