Safe And Economical Driving

You can reduce the amount of CO2 your car produces and the amount of fuel you use by driving it more efficiently.

Whenever you’re driving, the list of tips below will help you to drive smarter, cutting your fuel consumption by up to 15% and annual running costs by £200-250.

  1. When accelerating, change up to a higher gear early - between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm.
  2. Cut your speed - At 85 miles per hour (mph) a car uses approximately 25% more fuel than at 70mph. The optimum driving speed for fuel efficiency is usually around 55 mph.
  3. Anticipate the road conditions ahead - Avoid unnecessary breaking and acceleration.
  4. Step off the accelerator when going downhill or slowing down. Make sure you remain in gear - coasting uses more fuel and can be dangerous.
  5. Don’t carry unnecessary weight around. Remove heavy items from your car when they’re not needed. Extra weight = Increased fuel consumption.
  6. Remove roof racks and bike racks when they’re not being used. They make a car less aerodynamic and greatly increase fuel consumption at higher speeds. Similarly, keep windows closed at speeds of over 45 mph to reduce air resistance.
  7. Use Air Conditioning sparingly, as this uses fuel.
  8. Make sure your tyres are correctly inflated.
  9. Turn off your engine if you think you’ll be stationary for more than a minute.
  10. Try to avoid using the car for short journeys as cold engines burn more fuel. It is often quicker and cheaper to walk or cycle instead.
  11. Plan your journeys so that you can complete lots of activities in one journey, rather than driving backwards and forwards.
  12. Find someone to share your car journeys and therefore your fuel costs. The Car Share Somerset website can help you find a car share match.

DRIVER TRAINING

If you want to be safer on the roads, you could improve your driving skills by taking one of the many courses now available. For information about courses including driver awareness training, Speed Choice workshops, Pass Plus and advanced driving, go to the Somerset Road Safety Partnership website.

REPORTING PROBLEMS WITH THE ROADS

Safer journeys depend on having roads which are clear from hazards and obstructions. If you spot a hazard of any description on the county's roads, report it to Somerset County Council via the links below: