How to become more savvy, fuel-conscious drivers

In view of the a fuel-price increase as of today (Wednesday, 3 February) Elegant Fuel, an independent fuel provider suggests a few simple things drivers can do to become more savvy, fuel-conscious drivers.

The fuel hike comes as a result of increasing oil prices, despite rand/ dollar fluctuations, which may offset some of this price pressure.

Rocco Strydom, an oil and energy expert and a director at Elegant Fuel said more price hikes can be expected throughout the year and transport costs are set to continue increasing, which is bad news in a tough economy.

But according to him, 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. This means that fuel prices can be expected to continue to rise this year and drivers should adopt cost-saving habits if they are to weather the harsh 2017 economic climate.

“But there are ways to mitigate the coming increases,” Rocco said.

Here are his top five tips:

• Take care of your car and keep it in good working order by having it 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 the 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 economic driving culture among their employees. Create an incentive programme that rewards drivers who deliver their loads on time, but use less fuel.

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