Eco-Driving

You should be learning how to drive in the most economical way possible in order to reduce your carbon footprint and also help you spend less on fuel. At the end of your driving test, you normally be given feedback regarding how economical your drive was and possible ways to improve your eco-driving. Various ways to drive in a more economic manner include avoiding harsh acceleration, selecting the appropriate gear for the speed (not too high a gear as this will make the engine struggle) and planning well ahead. You should try to use the momentum of your car as much possible and only use the gas in a gentle and progressive manner. These tips will greatly reduce your fuel consumption which can only benefit you in the long run.

There are numerous ways to ensure your style of driving remains economical, below we have outlined the various methods which are most beneficial:


• Anticipate traffic flow – If you see a build up of traffic ahead, don’t speed up to it and stop, you should adjust your speed on the approach and take full advantage of your cars momentum. You should aim to keep your vehicle moving so that once you reach the traffic it is moving again so you don’t have to move off from a stationary position.



• Maintain a steady speed at low RPM – Build up your speed gradually and don’t make the engine struggle. If the engine is crying out to be shifted up a gear, you are not driving in an economical manner and additionally you will be greatly increasing your fuel consumption. Keep the RPM low and shift up/down at the correct times, ideally when the rev counter is at around 2 (2000 rpm). Doing so will increase your miles per gallon and reduce your carbon footprint



• Keep tyres properly inflated – Having low tyre pressure, (or slightly flat tyres), is a safety risk and will also waste fuel as more load is absorbed by the tyres rather than distributed on the road itself. The recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle can be found in your vehicle handbook or on the side of the tyre itself, you should check the pressure regularly using a reliable pressure gauge.



• Don’t carry unnecessary weight - It might not surprise you that the more your vehicle weighs will result in more fuel being burned. If you have a boot full of stuff that you don’t use then clear it out! This will result in a smaller carbon footprint and more miles per gallon which is never a bad thing!

The examiner will be judging whether your driving style is economical or not, however their main priority will be to judge if you can drive in a safe and controlled manner. The examiner is aware that you will not have had extensive hours of driving practise and with eco-driving being a skill which can take a while to master, they will understand if you don’t show too many signs of economical driving during your test.