Ways to drive in a greener way

There are several methods that you can employ to ensure that you drive in a green way. The advantages of this are that you consume less fuel pro rata so it is good for your bank balance too, and driving well and smoothly is also good for the longevity of your vehicle too, helping to preserve its value for longer, so it makes sense all round to drive in a green fashion.

The key rule is that if you drive in a smooth manner and at a slower speed then you will reduce your fuel usage. Of course you should not drive slower than it is safe to do so, sometimes driving too slowly is dangerous.

You should avoid harsh movements like suddenly zooming off or whacking on the breaks (harsh acceleration or deceleration in other words), and you should ensure that you stick to the speed limits. The higher the speed the more fuel you are on average going to use to cover the same distance of ground.

Remember to change gears at the correct time, as this will save fuel and reduce emissions. The recommended way to do this is to look at the revs, and to change up a gear when the rev counter hits 2,500 RPM for petrol cars.

Finally there are common sense rules that many ignore - such as leaving the engine on when you are waiting several minutes to pick someone up - if you don't want the green side of it then imagine that you are burning money which is what you are doing in the form of the fuel that costs money - switch the engine off; and also don't start the engine before you intend to drive off. Many start the engine then sit there for a minute or two fiddling with the radio, mirrors etc - do that before you switch the engine on then go!

Related Articles...

driving theory test
Your ignition warning light
When you turn on the electrical circuits in your car, then the ignition warning light will come on: make sure that this does indeed happen. Once the engine itself is started, then the ignition...

What a slippery road surface sign could mean
The problem with a slippery road surface sign is this: whilst you know what it means, you don't know what it means. If that sounds confusing, then the point is simply this - what is it that is...

Driving Theory Centres
Finding the nearest driving theory centre to you is easy as the government makes this information available to you online. There is a website that enables you to find the nearest driving...

What to do if horses are on the road
It may sound quite rare, but actually on country journeys you will from time to time encounter horses and their riders using the road. And you may also come across other animals too. When you...

Understanding illuminated signals on motorways
The location of the signs and signals that you see on motorway itself tells you some information: who it applies to. Signs at the edge of the road will apply to all drivers, whilst those that...

The Advanced Driving Test
There are advantages to continuing to study driving by means of a course like the advanced driving test, because it will help to give you the chance to develop your skills even further than you had...

Overtaking cyclists safely
You need to constantly be on the lookout for cyclists because they are a lot less visible than cars and motor vehicles. Whilst cyclists should have lights in poor light conditions or in the...

The New Drivers Act
The New Drivers Act is legislation that applies to those who have just passed their test and are categorised as new drivers, which in this legal definition refers to the first two years of passing...

Vehicles that cannot be used for a practical test
The vast majority of drivers will of course use the vehicle of their instructor or driving school when they take their practical test and so will not need to worry about the vehicle. However...

What are greener fuels
One of the most well known of the green fuels is something that is called Biofuel. Biofuel is a group of different fuels rather than an individual fuel in itself, and the class contains things...


Back to home page of driving theory test questions