We think it’s possible to save money and at the same time help save the environment.
You could save hundreds of dollars at the pump each year, avoid costly speeding tickets, repairs and insurance hikes and even prevent unnecessary wear on your vehicle by following CAA’s eco-driving tips:
According to one study referenced by Natural Resources Canada, frequent “jackrabbit” starts and hard braking reduce travel time by only 4 percent, but increase fuel consumption by 39 percent. A lot of energy is used trying to get a vehicle up to cruising speed – energy which is lost when the vehicle is forced to slow down unnecessarily as it tailgates the driver in front. To maximize your fuel efficiency, take five seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 20 km/h from a stop.
Whenever possible, plan your route to combine many stops into one trip. Your vehicle is more fuel efficient when it is warmed up, so several short trips with a cold engine can use twice as much gas than one longer trip.
If you are parked and waiting, turn off your vehicle. Idling can burn roughly 1 to 2 litres of gas per hour, while restarting your car only uses about 10 seconds worth of fuel.
As you increase speed, more power is needed to push the car through the air. Driving at lower speeds can greatly reduce fuel consumption. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and will also save gas (but be careful in wet or icy conditions, and consult your owner’s manual for safe instructions on the use of cruise control).
Take off roof and bike racks when you’re not using them. They decrease the aerodynamics of a vehicle. Remove unnecessary items from your trunk.
