Prudent motorists can beat the Chancellor

The RAC Foundation today welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to keep fuel duty on ice, at least until November.

Edmund King, Executive Director, described the decision as "a cool draught of common sense in an overheated fuel market."

Money-minded motorists can more than match the Chancellor’s savings just by changing their driving habits, according to the RAC Foundation, launching its top tips for money-saving driving.

Sixty-five pence in every pound spent on petrol goes straight to the Treasury in tax. By driving more economically, motorists can cut as much as 15% from their fuel bills – giving more money to the holiday fund and less to the taxman.

Simple money-saving tips include:

Stick to the speed limit. Travelling at 70mph rather than 50mph can increase fuel consumption by 30 per cent for a medium size car.

Plan the journey before travelling – going round in circles trying to find the right road wastes fuel as well as time. Avoid congestion by checking on the web or calling a traffic information line before setting off.

If you are stuck in a jam, switch off – this saves all fuel and cuts emissions to zero.

Cut out short journeys altogether. A cold engine uses twice as much fuel, while catalytic converters take five miles to become effective. Take a walk in the sunshine to the local shops instead.

Take the roof-rack off if it’s not being used – the bars spoil the aerodynamics of the car and increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 per cent.

Drive defensively – avoid harsh acceleration and heavy braking. Racing away from the lights uses up to 60 per cent more fuel.

Use the gearbox more efficiently – driving in the correct gear for the speed of the road means the engine is operating at peak torque and maximum efficiency.

Check tyre pressures before a trip – under-inflated tyres increase resistance on the road and make the engine work harder to move the car forward.

Edmund King added "Even with today’s freeze, 65 pence in every pound spend on fuel goes straight to Gordon Brown. By planning ahead and taking simple steps to drive more economically, motorists can feel satisfied that more of their money will stay in their own wallets."