Drivers 'cutting vehicle costs'

Drivers are thinking of their wallets and the environment while behind the wheel, research from Saga has suggested.

According to a study carried out by the group’s motor insurance arm, 70 per cent of Britons are taking steps to cut the amount they spend on their cars.

Of these, 28 per cent look for cheaper fuel before buying. A recent poll by the ETA found that motorists are trying to save money by cutting back on what they regard as non-essential services – the equivalent of 3 million drivers are prepared to go without breakdown cover in order to reduce their motoring costs.

Eco driving

The research found that 55 per cent are taking an environmentally-friendly approach to saving money, driving their car less where possible.

Director of the ETA, Andrew Davis said: “The biggest single thing to save money and help the environment with regard to our cars is to use them less, but there are other simple steps to making our motoring greener.”

The term green driving refers to simple techniques to encourage safer, more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly motoring.

Eco driving	… at a glance
Take it smooth	Avoiding harsh acceleration and braking saves fuel and reduces wear and tear – it leaves you feeling more relaxed, too
Anticipate	By looking as far as possible up the road it’s possible to reduce stop/start driving, thereby reducing fuel consumption and making you a safer driver into the bargain
Shed weight	Remove unnecessary clutter from your car and you will use less fuel
Improve your aerodynamics	If you don’t regularly use your roof rack or top box, remove it as it’s reducing the efficiency of your car

Is it better to buy an eco-friendly car or to just run my old one into the ground?

By the time the average new car leaves the showroom and before its key has been turned in the ignition, its design, manufacture and marketing may have accounted for 6 tons of CO₂ emissions.

Swapping a thirsty and polluting older car for a lighter, more fuel-efficient model makes environmental sense, but the gains made as result of exchanging a five-year-old family car with a similar-sized, brand-new model are likely to be negligible.

A car warranty from a reputable company can help extend a car’s useful life and thereby reduce its overall impact on the environment.

What is the ETA?

The ETA provides motorists with breakdown cover and and cyclist insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.