Does Driving Style Affect Fuel Economy? 8 Habits to Try

Two drivers in the same car on the same road can use very different amounts of fuel. Here are eight habits that help, and how to check they are working.

1. Accelerate gently

Hard acceleration burns a lot of fuel. Pull away smoothly and build speed steadily. You do not need to crawl, just avoid flooring it every time.

2. Look ahead and anticipate

The more you look down the road, the less you need to brake hard. If a red light is ahead, lift off early and let the car slow. Every time you brake you waste the energy you used to build speed.

3. Use higher gears sooner

Driving in a low gear at high revs wastes fuel. Change up when the engine is happy, usually somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm in a petrol car, and follow your car's gear indicator if it has one.

4. Keep your speed sensible

Air resistance rises sharply with speed. Driving at 80 mph on a motorway uses noticeably more fuel than driving at 70, and the difference grows with a roof box or a full load. Stay within the speed limit, which is also safer.

5. Use cruise control on clear roads

On steady, flat roads, cruise control holds speed smoothly. It is less useful on hilly roads or in traffic.

6. Avoid idling

An idling engine uses fuel and goes nowhere. If you are stopped for more than a minute or so, and it is safe and legal to do so, switch off. Many modern cars have stop-start to do this automatically.

7. Use the air conditioning sensibly

Air conditioning uses some engine power. At low speeds, opening a window may be cheaper, and at high speeds the air conditioning can be more economical than an open window because of drag. See roof boxes, air con and weight.

8. Plan your trip

Cold engines are inefficient, so combine errands into one trip. Avoid rush hour and known jams if you can, because stop-start traffic uses more fuel per mile.

What is it worth?

Savings vary by car and driver, and you should be sceptical of big promises. But if smoother driving gives you a 5% improvement in fuel economy, then at 8,000 miles a year at 40 mpg you save about £79 a year on petrol at today's prices. At 10% it is about £158.

How to measure your own progress

1. Fill the tank completely and note the mileage
2. Drive as normal for a tank
3. Refill completely and note the litres
4. Work out your mpg, as explained in cost per mile

Do this before and after you change your habits to see the real effect.

Do not forget safety

Never sacrifice safety for economy. Keep a safe distance, follow the speed limits, and do not coast in neutral, since it reduces your control.

For more ideas, see 12 ways to cut your fuel bill, then find the cheapest fuel near you.