Britain is pouring fuel down the drain

The nation is effectively pouring gallons of fuel down the drain through inefficient driving, says Honda – one of the key supporters of Energy Saving Week, which runs throughout this week.

New research released by the Energy Saving Trust reveals the bad habits of Britain’s car drivers. According to the findings, over half (54 per cent) of us fail to turn the engine off when in stationary traffic – needlessly burning fuel. We also carry excess luggage in the boot and rev the engine when stationary, among other gas-guzzling traits.

Honda has joined forces with the Energy Saving Trust to encourage drivers to adopt eco-driving techniques in order to make each journey more efficient – and less damaging to the environment. The main focus for this will be on Wednesday October 25, ‘Green Wheels Day’.

John Kingston, Environment Manager at Honda (UK), said: “In the same way people might turn off the tap when brushing their teeth, drivers could switch off their engines when stuck in traffic. This could save them money, but more importantly, could reduce emissions and help the environment. Of course, they could always drive a Honda Civic Hybrid – a car that’s clever enough to turn itself off when stationary!”

Want to save fuel and reduce your car’s impact on the environment? Just follow the Energy Saving Trust’s handy eco-driving tips:

Check your revs – next time you change up a gear, look at your rev counter. If you’re driving efficiently, you should be changing up at no more than 2,500rpm in a petrol car and 2,000rpm in a diesel

How’s your speed? – above 60mph, the amount of fuel you use goes up considerably. For example, driving at 80mph instead of 70mph uses up around 10-15 per cent more fuel

Switch it off – if you’re stuck in a traffic jam, at a railway crossing or waiting for someone for more than two minutes, turn your engine off. You’ll save money and cut down damage to the environment

Drive off from cold – modern cars are designed to be driven off straight away. Waiting for the engine to ‘warm up’ just wastes fuel, not to mention your time and produces harmful CO2 emissions and air pollution

Check your tyre pressure – not only are under-inflated tyres dangerous, they also increase the amount of fuel you use. Check your tyres at least once a month – the Highway Code recommends a weekly check

Travel light – accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers and roof boxes significantly affect your car’s aerodynamics and reduce your fuel efficiency. For example, driving at 75mph with a roof rack will use around 20 per cent more fuel