One of the uncomfortable consequences of global events recently that affects all car users is the ever rising cost of petrol and diesel, and, not far behind, the rising cost of electricity. It is becoming increasingly common to see lines of cars in lanes 1 and 2 of the motorway driving at a steady 60mph or so. Some of them are electric car drivers stretching the battery range and making sure they get to a functioning charger before they run out, but many more are conventionally powered car drivers making that fuel go further.
Guildford Advanced Motorists have part of the answer to this problem – become an advanced driver. It is undoubtedly the case that advanced drivers are more likely to have the skills needed to reduce fuel consumption without necessarily sacrificing journey time or joining slow lines of other motorists.
Two main things affect the fuel performance of the vehicle, the amount of energy needed to push the heavy vehicle through the air and to overcome friction (of moving mechanical parts and due to drag of the body shape, for instance) and the number of times you come to a halt and have to get going again.
Advanced drivers will be constantly looking ahead and scanning for threats and opportunities. Don’t get caught behind a queue of cars trying to overtake a truck on a hill – you should have spotted the truck and the hill much sooner and done something about it. Don’t rush up to a set of traffic lights in lane 1 and brake to join a queue when you can slowly cruise up to the lights in lane 2 and arrive just as they change to green. Take every opportunity to look for the line of least resistance and keep moving – this is what advanced drivers call ‘making progress’.
Use of cruise control can be a help to minimise unnecessary braking and accelerating on certain routes. And we all know the usual remedies for weight and drag issues are to remove the roof rack and bike racks and not carry unnecessary weight in the car, and to keep the car well serviced to avoid having old ineffective oil in the engine and dragging brakes or unlubricated bearings. But the best thing you can do is to drive at quiet times on the road, improve your long range vision and scanning techniques, and respond more quickly to changing situations so that you are not suddenly caught out and having to continually stop and start again. Observation, Anticipation and Planning – a remedy for rising fuel costs.
Ask for more details about joining Guildford Advanced Motorists – contact details in this web site.