How can I improve my Green Driving score?
Would you like a better Green Driving score? Or do you simply want to drive more economically and be more sustainable? Then follow these 7 tips:
- Drive with the windows closed.
Even though it can sometimes be very pleasant to open a window, your car simply uses less fuel when the windows are closed. Good aerodynamics help reduce your environmental impact. - Ensure your tyres are correctly inflated.
Just as engine maintenance is important, so too is tyre pressure. It takes very little effort to check this regularly. Both over-inflation and under-inflation have a negative impact on your car’s fuel consumption. - Change gear in good time.
By changing up as early as possible, your engine runs smoothly. Accelerating hard and leaving it too long to change up costs extra fuel. Also try to drive at a constant speed as much as possible. Aim for a combination of low revs whilst driving in the highest gear. - Avoid driving too fast.
It sounds as logical as it is: the faster you drive, the more fuel your car consumes. It is therefore better to drive at a constant speed with a low engine speed and the highest possible gear. Most cars achieve optimal fuel efficiency at a speed of around 90 km per hour. - Coast instead of braking.
You’ll often see the need to stop coming up in good time. Try letting your car coast more often towards a traffic light, for example, instead of slamming on the brakes. As well as saving fuel, this also helps preserve your brakes and tyres. - Don’t accelerate too quickly.
Accelerating quickly from a traffic light can be quite fun. However, it does use more fuel than accelerating slowly. So try to accelerate as slowly as possible. Do make sure this doesn’t cause a nuisance to other road users and that you don’t go overboard with ‘driving too slowly’. - Do you need to wait? Switch off the engine.
How often do you find yourself waiting with the engine running at a level crossing or bridge? Even if you’re waiting for someone who’s just popping out for a quick errand, it’s better to switch off the car’s engine. This saves fuel. Restarting the engine uses less fuel than waiting with the engine running.
Source: milieubewust.net