Brits are being offered top tips to reduce their driving emissions, save some money and the environment.
The motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have revealed advice to help drivers keep their harmful emissions down when driving.
Air pollutants that escape from the exhaust of a vehicle include CO2, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and fine dust particles.
Harmful air pollutants can have a detrimental impact on the local environment, the health of people and the animals nearby.
They can lead to some health, including respiratory problems, among your staff and the public and can contribute to climate change.
Driving vehicles efficiently has financial benefits too. Savings can be made through reduced fuel costs and less wear and tear on the car or van.
A spokesperson for LeaseCar.uk said: “Needing to get around is unavoidable, but there are some really simple steps you can implement into your daily driving habit to reduce the emissions your vehicle gives off.
“These tips will help the environment, as less harmful pollutants will make it to our atmosphere, but they will also help you save a bit of money on fuel and
Reduce emissions on the road:
- Idling
When stuck in traffic, or at traffic lights and the vehicle is going to be stationary for a short while, turn the engine off to cut down on emissions. Switching the ignition off will stop the vehicle from producing harmful pollutants unnecessarily and save on fuel, as idling for 10 seconds uses the same amount as restarting the engine.
- Weight
Clearing the boot out can be an annoying job, but it is well worth it. When the boot is full of heavy items, the car or van will have to do more work and burn more fuel. When driving around day-to-day, drop all the unnecessary weight from the vehicle.
- Consistency
Driving smoothly and consistently will help curb the car’s emissions. Reading the road ahead, trying to accelerate and decelerate smoothly efficiently. Cars also burn more fuel when moving on from being stationary, so move at a slow speed instead of coming to a total stop.
- Tyres
Having under-inflated tyres is likely to increases fuel consumption and the number of CO2 emissions omitted. Adding pressure and pumping up tyres is relatively cheap, and it will give the vehicle greater rolling resistance, meaning you’ll burn through less fuel and be more efficient when on the road. Check the manufacturers manual for pressures, as every car will differ.
- Short journeys
Lots of short trips will be more detrimental to the environment than one long trip. To cut down on the harmful emissions omitted, try to combine several shorter trips you need to make, or consider walking or cycling. Before reaching for the car keys to make a short journey to the shops, consider if the trip can be made on foot.
- Oil
The oil in the engine is responsible for keeping important mechanisms in the vehicle clean, cool and running smoothly. It needs to be changed and topped up regularly, to keep the vehicle operating at optimal efficiency. Refer to the car’s manual to make sure you use the correct grade of oil.
- Fuel
When filling up at the fuel station, you will notice that alongside diesel and unleaded, there are other fuels labelled as ‘premium’, at a slightly higher cost. The premium fuels contain active cleaning agents that remove dirt from the engine, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Especially with new cars, it may be worth paying a little extra to keep the engine ticking over nicely.
- Habits
Every driver has got into a few bad habits since passing their test. However, everyone can decrease their emissions by driving mindfully. Small changes can have a big impact on how much pollution is produced. Consider changing gear earlier, staying out of the upper rev range, braking sooner and slowing down ahead of time to reduce wear and tear, and maintain efficiency in the process.
- Cleaning
The older a vehicle is, the more dirt will have built up in the engine. This can be detrimental to performance, reduce efficiency and increase emissions. Adding a cleaning agent into the fuel system will remove any dirty deposits and lower emissions.
- Replace
Taking the steps outlined above might lower the emissions of your existing vehicle, but a newer car might be the best option to significantly reduce air pollutants. Manufacturers are having to keep up to date with the ever-changing environmental legislation, meaning cars are more efficient than ever.