What can drivers do to help the environment?

Helping the environment starts with you and how you can make better choices in your lifestyle. One of those could be changing the way you get around.

Let’s find out how your driving can make a positive impact on the environment around you.

Simply put, eco-friendly driving is driving in a way that is environmentally friendly. Sounds easy enough, but how do you actually do that? Here are some eco-friendly driving tips that all drivers can apply:

1. Avoid idling: If you are going to be stopped for more than a minute, turn off your engine
2. Accelerate and brake slowly: Sudden starts and stops waste fuel and increases emissions. Try to think ahead and avoid traffic so that you can smoothly accelerate and brake when needed
3. Keep a steady speed: Driving at a consistent speed uses less fuel than speeding up and slowing down all the time. You can also use cruise control to help maintain your speed on long stretches like motorways
4. Follow the speed limits: The faster you go, the more fuel you use. Not to mention, speeding is dangerous!
5. Go electric: Make the switch to an EV. They don't use fossil fuels, they don't produce noise or air pollution, and they rely on a cleaner, more sustainable energy source

Not only can you help the environment, eco-safe driving can also save you money on fuel and reduce wear and tear on your car.

There are a number of things that you can do to reduce your environmental impact as a driver, let’s look at a few.

Planning your route before you travel can help reduce your environmental impact in a few different ways. First of all, it can help you avoid getting stuck in traffic. As we mentioned, stopping and starting your engine constantly can burn a huge amount of fuel. This also leads to heavy air pollution in certain areas, which has negative effects on the environment and our health.

Planning your route can also help you choose the fastest, shortest route, which will lead to shorter and more fuel-efficient journeys. No one wants to be stuck in traffic forever.

Finally, a bit of planning can help you avoid areas that are very polluted, like busy roads near factories. By taking a little time to plan your journey ahead of time, you can make a big difference to your environmental impact.

Don’t forget that you can also take advantage of public transport, car sharing, and other alternatives to driving alone. Not only will this help reduce your carbon footprint, but it can also help ease traffic congestion and save you money on fuel.

Did you know you can help reduce your environmental impact simply by maintaining your vehicle? A well-maintained car is more fuel-efficient, so you'll need fewer visits to the pump, and you're creating a smaller carbon footprint.

Here are a few tips to help keep your car in top condition:

• Check your tyre pressure regularly: An under-inflated tyre can add to your vehicle's drag and your car has to work harder and use more fuel (and can be less safe) to get from A to B. Check your tyre pressure and tread depths at least once a month, and keep them inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
• Get regular oil changes and tune-ups: This will keep your engine running as efficiently as possible. Newer, thinner oil creates less resistance in the engine, allowing it to run more easily.
• Replace your air filter: A clogged air filter can limit the amount of air that reaches your engine, which makes it work harder and use more petrol or diesel.
• Use the recommended grade of motor oil: Using the wrong type of motor oil can decrease your fuel efficiency.

Always remember to recycle any fluids that come from your car, like motor oil and coolant. Your local recycling centre will be able to help you with this.

This might not always be available or viable, but if you only need to travel a short distance, walking or biking may be the best option. Not only is this good for the environment, but it's also good for your health. If you need to travel further, consider taking public transport if it's available to you. This can help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution caused by traffic.

If you still prefer to be independent and travel alone, check if your company is registered with the cycle-to-work scheme, or if our EV salary sacrifice electric scheme is available to you. With us, you can save up to 40% on the cost of an EV with the salary sacrifice scheme.

By driving in a more sustainable way, maintaining our vehicles, and considering alternative transport options, we can all help improve our environmental impact. But what about our choice of car in the first place?

One of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact is to switch to electric driving. EVs are a lot more efficient than petrol or diesel cars in many ways. In terms of air and noise pollution, sustainability, price per mile, and even driving experience, electric cars are out-performing petrol and diesel cars and are becoming the more attractive option.

When it comes to sustainability, there is only one clear winner in the debate of electric cars vs petrol cars. Plus, EVs are becoming more and more affordable. As tech improves, their range and charging improve too.

Browse electric cars to get started. With leasing and salary sacrifice options available, you'll be sure to find the perfect fit for you.