Driving

How you drive has a big impact on emissions and your fuel bill.

Follow these tips from the Energy Saving Trust to save fuel,money and emissions when driving, and when choosing your next car.

This article also provides lots of useful advice on reducing your emissions.

Eco-driving

You can learn to drive in a more eco-friendly manner, and therefore lower your emissions.  Find out more here.

Do you really need a car (or second car)?

That might seem like a daft question, but many households in Somerset don’t have access to a car, and even in those that do, many of the people don’t have access all the time.  So, alternatives are feasible, especially if you live in one of the main towns or on a frequent bus or rail route.  In some places there are car clubs, where for a small annual subscription you can have the use of cars on a pay as you go basis, which is great for those occasional times when alternatives just won’t cut the mustard.

Do you really need to drive this time?

It’s so easy to grab the car keys and drive without even thinking about it.  For short trips to local shops or your children’s primary school it is typically quicker to cycle or even walk, and its better for your and their health too. And its worth bearing in mind that short trips where a car engine doesn’t get properly warmed up cause disproportionate wear and tear.  In the case of modern diesel cars with particulate filters, doing this a lot without regular motorway mileage could leave you with a big repair bill!  So for short trips especially, think about the alternatives and help cut pollution and congestion.

Anti-idling

Vehicle idling is unnecessary.  It damages the health of those around you.  Engine off.  Every stop.

• It’s bad for the environment – idling emits harmful pollutants, greenhouse gases and particles into the air. Car idling produces up to 150 balloons of harmful exhaust emissions per minute.
• It’s bad for your health – when you’re idling, you are emitting harmful gases into the air which are then drawn back into your car. Air pollution has been linked to a number of different health risks.
• It’s bad for your wallet – idling wastes fuel and increases wear on your car. You could save money by switching off your engine.