As commercial drivers continue to struggle operating a business with overheads almost impossibly high, one of the UK’s leading road safety campaigning groups once again stress the benefits of advanced driving techniques.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) believes drivers can sometimes be their own worst enemy when it comes to fuel costs and advocate several simple driving tips that could save motorists running their own businesses thousands of pounds over the course of a year. The tips are all based on data derived from professional sources and are all eminently easy procedures for drivers who spend a lot of time on the road.
IAM first of all advise drivers to check their tyres on a regular basis and always before setting out on long journeys. Under inflated tyres are dangerous and can put fuel consumption up by 3%. Always stick to the speed limit, doing this will not only save petrol (the difference between 70 mph and 85 mph can be as much as a litre of fuel every 20 miles) but also make you a safer driver, less liable to be involved in accidents and more likely to get cheap van insurance. Use cruise control for long days of travelling but remember to turn it off when going up steep inclines. Switch off your engine if you are constantly stop starting in urban traffic and always remember to cut down on clutter; the more weight you are pulling the more fuel you will consume.
All quite simple and common sense according to IAM chief Executive Simon Best who said: “Green driving techniques can easily improve fuel efficiency by up to 10%. In other words, if the monthly price of filling up is typically two tanks at £70 each – an advanced driver can save £14 a month. For professional drivers and those in haulage and delivery the savings would be considerably more.”