South Africans are facing one of their largest increases in fuel prices yet. At midnight petrol will increase by 91c per litre while diesel will see an increase of 55c per litre. This does not bode well for motorists as the country is already experiencing a difficult economic situation due to lockdown and recent unrest.
The CEO from MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says the best way to reduce petrol consumption is to change your mindset. “Whether this is committing to leaving with plenty of time to spare or acknowledging that racing to arrive at your destination will make little to no difference in arrival time. it will, however, make a considerable difference to your petrol consumption and it starts with changing your mindset.”
Herbert recommends his top tips to save fuel as the increase comes into effect.
1. Anticipate conditions
Adopt a defensive driving style so you can anticipate changing traffic conditions before they happen. “You should drive looking 12 seconds ahead of you. This will allow you to see traffic slowing ahead of you or traffic light changes well before they happen. You can immediately adjust your own speed to avoid coming to a complete stop,” says Herbert.
2. Do not speed
Drive at speeds that suit the current conditions and avoid speeding. “Reducing speed by 20kph in certain instances can reduce fuel consumption by 20%. Often speed is also accompanied by fast lane changes, sudden acceleration and harsh braking. Not only does this increase fuel consumption but it also costs you more in maintenance. Increasing your speed will only make minimal if any, the difference to trip times.”
3. Plan ahead
Plan each journey to save fuel. “It can help you avoid traffic jams; help you choose the most fuel-efficient routes and avoid leaving too little time. It will also help you avoid rushing which makes driving fuel efficiently almost impossible.”
4. Drive nicely
As mentioned already, inconsiderate driving increases fuel consumption. “This includes unnecessary lane changes, harsh acceleration and speeding. Instead, keep to the road rules and follow techniques such as keeping your engine revs between 2,500 and 3,000rpm. This can result in a saving of up to 20% in fuel consumption,” says Herbert.
