WITH yet another fuel increase and more price hikes expected throughout the year, transport costs are set to continue increasing which is bad news in a tough economy.
Luckily there are some quick and easy ways to mitigate some of these unavoidable expenses.
Simply changing driving habits for greater efficiency is an easy win. Not accelerating as if you are in a Tom Cruise movie when taking off is not only good for your wallet, but it is much better for the environment, too.
“Oil prices are expected to fluctuate between $50 and $60 per barrel this year,” said fuel and energy expert Rocco Strydom.
“This means that fuel prices can be expected to continue to rise in the coming year and drivers should adopt cost-saving habits if they are to weather the harsh 2017 economic climate.”
It is widely expected that fuel prices will rise in February as a result of increasing oil prices, despite rand/dollar fluctuations which may offset some of this price pressure.
The Automobile Association of South Africa predicted earlier this month that fuel prices would be hiked before the end of the month. The AA says it made this assessment after analysing mid-month fuel price data from the Central Energy Fund.
But there are ways to mitigate the coming increases, says Strydom, who is a co-founder and director of integrated fuel retailer Elegant Fuel. He says there are a few simple things drivers can do to become more savvy, fuel-conscious drivers.
Here are his top five tips:
Take care of your car and keep it in good working order by ensuring it is serviced at regular intervals to ensure optimal performance. Small problems can often increase your fuel consumption without you knowing about it.
Improve your car’s aerodynamics and weight – don’t transport more than you need. Remove your roof rack if you are not using it.
This immediately improves your car’s aerodynamics. Remove everything from your car that does not need to be transported somewhere. The goal is to keep your vehicle as light as possible.
Planning your route can save you fuel. Think about which route you will take. When doing your planning, consider driving at times when other drivers are less likely to be on the road. Start-and-stop driving in heavy traffic wastes fuel.
Dress for the occasion. Keeping the air conditioning off or the windows closed will save fuel. Dress lightly to avoid using the air conditioning unnecessarily. Open windows create a drag effect on your car and will increase fuel burn.
Incentivise economical driving. Businesses that need to manage multiple vehicles should create an economical driving culture among their employees. Create an incentive programme that rewards drivers who deliver their loads on time but use less fuel.