The year I passed my driving test – in 1993 – the average UK retail price of unleaded petrol was 49.44p per litre. I’ve just returned from the petrol station and the cost of unleaded was an eye watering £1.70 per litre. By the time you read this, the price will probably be even higher. Recent news headlines have been reporting that the cost of filling up an average family car is about to hit £100.
 
Due to the sharp increases in gas and electric prices, food bills and just about every other commodity we buy, we’re all looking for ways to save money and stretch our pay packet a little further. So how can we save money at the fuel pumps? The obvious way is to use less fuel by reducing the number of miles we travel. That might be by making fewer journeys – do I really need to get in the car to go and buy a coffee? Or by combining trips to cut down on the miles travelled – calling at the shops as you drive past on your way home from work, rather than making a special trip on another day.
 
Fewer vehicles on the road also means fewer conflict points which can result in less collisions. We saw this through the pandemic during the lockdown periods when vehicle miles travelled was vastly reduced and so too were collisions and casualties
 
We could consider walking and cycling for shorter journeys rather than jumping in the car. According to the Department for Transport National Travel Survey, over 40 percent of journeys are less than 2 miles, a distance that is easily walked or cycled for a lot of people. Active forms of travel such as this have added health benefits for those walking and cycling as well as being good for the environment. But to help protect those on foot or on two wheels we continue to provide advice for drivers and urge them to look out for pedestrians and cyclists, to slow down as they are passing and give them plenty of room.
 
Another way of saving fuel is to drive more economically to get more miles from that tank of fuel. Little did we know when we made our eco-driving films and recorded our eco-driving podcast that 12 months on, the cost of fuel would be so high, and people would be clamouring for advice about saving money. But the upside for us is that by following some of our eco driving tips motorists will also be practicing safer driving techniques.
Eco driving is about driving economically to be more fuel efficient and lower the risk of wear and tear on a vehicle which in itself will help to save money on maintenance costs.  It is also about driving ecologically to help cut vehicle emissions and help the environment.

By changing your driving technique and improving your skills through eco driving, you’ll find a variety of benefits including greater comfort and safety.

Simple things will make a difference; carry out regular vehicle checks (see our how-to video here) and remove unnecessary loads, plan your route to find the least congested times and roads to travel, smooth accelerating and braking, slowing down and maintaining a steady speed where possible.
Drivers need to anticipate what might be going to happen around them and keep a greater distance between them and the vehicle in front to avoid the need for harsh braking. Basic skills like this will also help to make you a safer driver - which can only be a good thing for everyone.

To find out more why not listen to our podcast or watch the short film on our eco drive webpage sysrp.co.uk/eco-drive

Until next time, stay safe,
Joanne