“Eco-driving” is a style of taking to the road that should help drivers maximise their fuel efficiency. The positive impact of this is two-fold: saving money spent on fuel and reducing the environmental impact of your driving. We’re in the midst of an energy crisis, which is making it harder for people to fill a tank up, while road vehicles account for massive proportions of domestic transport emissions. Smart driving techniques can be applied by drivers of all kinds to enhance their fuel efficiency and economy.
This guide will offer you the information you need to drive smart and save fuel on the road, so you can fill up less often and feel a little greener in general
Which driving technique can save fuel the most effectively?
There are plenty of techniques that you can use on the road to save your fuel spent while driving.
Drive smoothly
The most important thing to do is to generally drive smoothly. This means avoiding sudden acceleration and harsh braking, along with other general safe driving techniques. Anticipate traffic and read the road like you were taught. Braking wastes energy, so consider the accelerator like a dimmer switch rather than an on/off switch.
Changing gears consciously
Manual cars need to be handled with care. While they are being somewhat phased out, plenty of drivers still drive sticks in 2025. Changing to the higher gear as soon as it's safe to do so, say around 2,000rpm for diesel and 2,500rpm for petrol, keeps the engine working more efficiently (also keeping failures at bay).
Be mindful of speed
Speed limits exist to keep us safe, but it’s also important for fuel efficiency. Sticking to the limit and being mindful on the motorway is crucial to a smart drive that saves you fuel.
Let the car coast sometimes
You don’t always need your foot to the floor. There are plenty of times, such as approaching red lights, roundabouts and traffic jams, where you can simply take your foot off the accelerator and coast into position – much more efficient than braking later on.
Switch the engine off when idling
When idling your car with the engine on, you’re simply wasting fuel. Modern engines warm up quickly once you start driving, so there’s no need to idle to get things in motion. Newer cars often have “start/stop” systems that can warm things up automatically.
Don’t use too much air conditioning
We’re being hit by heatwaves left and right at the moment, but air conditioning can consume fuel consumption by as much as 10%. If you’re at the right speed, open the window to get the breeze you need.
Important maintenance for smart driving
Other than driving on the road, there are plenty of maintenance tips you should keep in mind to enhance fuel efficiency, such as:
- Checking tyre pressure
- Losing any excess weight from the boot, roof rack or boxes
- Regular servicing
- Planning journeys for route efficiency
Keep your ear to the ground
Keep your eye on publications, such as our blog, to get the latest smart driving techniques and tips to save fuel and more. For vehicle breakdown cover that suits you, visit our website today!