Britain’s motorists could save themselves up to £7.7 billion per year[1] on fuel by learning to drive in a more economical and efficient fashion, according to the AA. The findings from the latest survey compiled by the AA show that eco- drivers can improve their fuel efficiency by 10 to 15 per cent. The data also shows that British motorists are wasting as much as three miles per gallon of fuel for every journey by travelling too fast, driving with the air conditioning on and window open, or revving the engine too high.
For a family with two vehicles running on petrol, achieving an average of 30 miles per gallon and travelling 10,000 miles each year, a fuel saving of between £333 and £500 per annum could therefore be made claims the AA. By driving more efficiently, wear and tear on tyres and brakes is reduced, while the inherent decrease in speed will also help improve driver safety.
With fuel prices rising throughout 2008 leading to shortages and panic buying on the forecourts, it is timely that the start of this year’s MPG Marathon (‘Miles Per Gallon’ Marathon) falls almost exactly a year after petrol broke the 100 pence per litre barrier in October 2007.
President of the AA, Edmund King, will be leading an AA team for this year’s entry into the 2008 MPG Marathon, the rally with a difference, from Bristol to Macclesfield - then back again. With the aim of the competition to drive economically, the winners are the teams who record the highest overall miles per gallon and the greatest increase in miles per gallon against the manufacturers’ stated figures. To help him prepare, Edmund has completed the AA’s Eco-driver Training that provides specific on-road tuition to help improve fuel efficiency and driver safety. Edmund will be driving a Fiat 500 1.3 Multijet with ecoDrive technology which records and analyses information about driving style and helps to use less fuel.
Edmund King commented on the event, “Despite fuel prices falling marginally in recent weeks, the cost of filling a car with fuel is still very high. Motorists up and down the country have felt the pinch, so the MPG Marathon is a timely reminder of how a few simple techniques can cut as much as ten to fifteen per cent off the fuel bill. Such a saving could pay for a family holiday or even be put towards a new car; either way – driving more economically can cut hundreds of pounds off the amount we pay for fuel each year. In preparation for this challenge I have undertaken the AA’s Eco-driver Training course and I’ll be using these skills to try and cut fuel consumption by fifteen per cent by maximising economy. It’s a testament to the success of the course that almost anybody who takes the course can cut their fuel expenditure by at least ten per cent, as well as reducing the chances of accidents by correcting any bad habits.”
Simon McBride
