Count To Five For Fuel-Efficient Driving

Fuel-efficient driving can not only save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year, but it can also improve road safety, prevent unnecessary wear on your vehicle and lower harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

You can count on one hand the number of steps it takes to achieve your vehicle’s fuel consumption ratings and save money at the pump.

1. Accelerate gently. Did you know about half the fuel you consume is used just to accelerate your vehicle? You can conserve up to 15 per cent of fuel by accelerating gently and gradually. To maximize your fuel efficiency, take about five seconds to accelerate from zero to 20 km/h.

2. Maintain a steady speed. Varying your speed up and down between 75 km/h and 85 km/h every 18 seconds can increase your fuel use by 20 per cent. On level roads and when safe to do so, consider using cruise control. On hilly terrain and where traffic permits, you’ll consume less fuel by allowing your speed to drop when you travel uphill and building momentum when driving downhill.

3. Anticipate traffic. Read the road ahead, anticipate road disruptions, monitor pedestrians and other vehicles and maintain a comfortable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

4. Avoid high speeds. Most cars, vans, SUVs and pick-up trucks perform most fuel efficiently when travelling between 50 and 80 km/h. Above this speed, vehicles consume increasingly more fuel the faster they go.

5. Coast to decelerate. By anticipating traffic slowdowns as early as possible, you can lower your speed, save fuel and money by simply taking your foot off the accelerator. Today, most vehicles have fuel-injection systems that automatically shut off the flow of fuel to the engine when the accelerator is fully released. In other words, a decelerating vehicle is coasting without using any fuel. When the engine speed drops to idle, the injection system restarts the flow of fuel to prevent the engine from stalling.

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