Utilising every last drop

What good is a fuel efficient car without a fuel efficient driver? Driving with an eco-mindset can save you up to 15 per cent on fuel, writes the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ Tanvir Nandra

When George Osborne announced that the three pence rise in fuel duty was cancelled, the UK’s motorists breathed a collective sigh of relief. And while petrol prices fell in January, the overall trend is for steadily climbing fuel costs.

Bombing it down the motorway at 80 miles an hour and screeching to a halt at every red light will cause immense wear and tear to the engine and gearbox. You’ll also see your fuel consumption rise, not to mention the increase in the release of carbon emissions.

Control the costs
Fuel and vehicle costs are a core part of a company’s fleet expenditure. Businesses are finding it more and more difficult to sustain the cost of fleets. In times of austerity, it’s difficult to cut back on costs and it becomes more and more important to find ways you can save money.
Fleet managers all over the country consider value for money and miles per gallon for new company vehicles, to make savings where possible. And with the rise in fuel efficient vehicles, the money-saving choices are increasing. But what good is a fuel efficient car to a fleet manager, without a fuel efficient driver? IAM Drive and Survive suggest that when your fleet are out on the road, driving, with an eco-mind set you can save up to 15 per cent on fuel. This could help to drive down costs considerably. However, a bad driver in your fleet can make a dent in your finances. A driver who spends long hours behind the wheel to meet with clients and colleagues are more likely to be fined and crash more because of the riskier driving style implied by the nature of their job and the time restrictions. Aiming to meet the next deadline in a hurry means a riskier driver – this is not the kind of driver you want for your fleet. Large fleets are particularly prone to suffering losses because of poorly trained drivers.

Eco driving – how to guide
Stopping and starting abruptly or driving erratically – these driving behaviours put a lot of stress on the engine and tyres. Unsurprisingly, it also burns a lot of fuel. A light right foot is important to keep a constant speed – and by starting and stopping gentler – you’ll save money. Using the brakes less often will make it a safer drive. Fleet or not, it’s a tip that works for a driver in any vehicle.
   
Stick to the speed limit – this improves fuel efficiency and road safety. For example, on a straight road where the national speed limit is in force, 50mph is the optimum speed for fuel efficiency. This offers a good compromise between economy and getting somewhere. There’s a significant saving made by doing 70 instead of 80 – and you avoid any risk of speeding fines.
   
Checking your vehicle regularly makes driving more efficiently much easier. In particular, check the condition of your tyres weekly. You can do this by checking tyre pressures when they’re cold. Wrongly inflated tyres can have a huge impact on fuel economy.

Improving driver observation, anticipation and awareness increases safety and again reduces the cost for fuel and maintenance. It helps keep the car on the move – more fuel is used starting off and braking.

Anticipation
Aim to get your staff into the habit of accelerating gradually to the most fuel‑efficient speed while looking ahead. There’s no point accelerating into a red light or traffic queue. Anticipating junctions and lights will also reduce the amount of time they stopping with the engine still running.
   
Keep your vehicle moving for as long as possible, even in traffic queues. This is far more fuel efficient than stopping and starting, so slow down earlier, to avoid braking as harshly and often.
   
Reverse into parking bays. If you do all the manoeuvring with a hot engine you can drive straight off when you come back and warm the engine up more quickly.

It takes most cars a couple of miles to warm up and run efficiently. Could you walk, cycle or use public transport? If not, think about linking short trips together to avoid starting several journeys with a cold engine.
   
Advise your staff to keep the car on a diet. Remove unnecessary weight, including roof racks, car clutter and heavy items in the boot.  The heavier you are, the more fuel you’ll burn.

Use air conditioning and climate control sparingly as they significantly increase fuel consumption. Scrape ice or spray your windscreen before starting the engine. In town open your windows to cool the car down, but at high speeds, keep your windows closed to maintain the aerodynamics of the car. Use air‑con to get the car to a comfortable temperature, and then turn it off. Keeping the inside of the front and rear windscreens squeaky clean will reduce the time you need to spend using the heating or air con to clear the screen. Traffic fumes form a film on the glass which attracts moisture and makes them mist up easily.

IAM Drive & Survive
The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling and cycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive.
   
IAM Drive & Survive offers an Ecolution module which can help to improve fuel consumption and lead to significant vehicle emission reductions. Ecolution teaches simple driving techniques which are easily adopted in everyday driving behaviour, and have a significant impact on fleet running costs.

Further information
Tel: 08701 202 910
www.iam.org.uk
www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk