Guard against harsh realities of petrol hikes

South African motorists woke up today to a record fuel hike.

The umpteenth increase this year saw petrol go up by 99c and R1.00 per litre for 93 and 95 respectively, while diesel saw an increase of R1.24.

According to Eugene Herbert, managing director of MasterDrive, there are ways motorists can follow to help alleviate the fuel increase pressure.

Herbert says anticipating conditions, by not speeding and planning ahead will help motorists to get more from a tank of fuel.

By adopting a defensive driving style, a driver can anticipate changing traffic conditions before they happen.

“You should be driving 12 seconds ahead of time. Your peripheral vision will allow you to see what is directly in front of you while you focus a little ahead as well,” sauys Herbert.

“For the managers of fleets, the importance of training your fleets in this style of driving is more important than ever before, not only for the safety benefits but for the savings you will see in your petrol expenses.

“As your drivers cover many more kilometres than the regular driver, the value of defensive driving cannot be overlooked.”

By reducing speed by 20km/h 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 difference to trip times.

Planning ahead of each journey is one of the best ways to save fuel. This can help the driver to avoid traffic jams and choose the most fuel efficient routes.

“Plan your journey so you do not rush. Keep your engine revs between 2500 and 3000rpm. Techniques like this can also result in a saving of up to 20% in fuel consumption,” adds Herbert. –