Smart Driving - Save 30%

As gas prices in North America fall in line with the rest of the world, here are a few tips from those who are paying $4 a litre.

First rule of eco-driving - ditch unnecessary weight.

Remove top boxes and boats from racks. Remove racks if possible.

Do not brim the fuel tank as this also adds extra weight.

Make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. Under-inflated tyres are not just dangerous - they create more resistance to the road and so make the car less efficient.

The central tenet of eco-driving is to get into the higher gears sooner and not to rev the engine too hard.

An eco-driver has to read the road - if you can plan ahead, you won't be accelerating and braking so much, thereby saving fuel and CO2 emissions.

Do not use the gears to slow down.

The idea is to lift off the gas in a higher gear, and allow the car to lose momentum.
If you're a good eco-driver, you'll then select the right gear to smoothly move on, without coming to a halt and having to bury your right foot in the carpet to get going.

A car's most efficient speeds are between 45-50mph.

The engine will be cold and at its most fuel inefficient when you start it. If you can drive away without having to reverse when the engine is cold, you will save fuel and have better visibility.

-Change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) or 2,000rpm (diesel)
-Drive smoothly, avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking
-Use air conditioning sparingly
-Faster speeds increase fuel consumption
-Drive off immediately after starting from cold
-Take off roof racks and boxes when not in use
-Avoid short journeys
-Plan route to avoid congestion, roadworks and getting lost
-Check tyre pressure is correct
-Switch off engine if stuck in a jam