Simple ways to cut down harmful vehicle emissions
Drivers can help the environment by using simple methods to keep harmful emissions down.
Advice from motoring experts on how to do this is straightforward and can be implemented daily.
Among the tips are keeping vehicle weight down, checking tyre pressures, and making sure vehicles are clean inside and out.
Driving vehicles efficiently has financial benefits too. Savings can be made through reduced fuel costs and less wear and tear on a vehicle.
Here are further ways to reduce driving emissions ...
1 When stuck in traffic, or at traffic lights, turn the engine off to cut down on emissions.
Switching the ignition off will stop the vehicle from producing harmful pollutants unnecessarily and save on fuel, as idling for ten seconds uses the same amount as restarting the engine.
2 Clear the boot out.
When the boot is full of heavy items, the car or van will burn more fuel.
3 Drive smoothly and consistently to help curb emissions. Read the road ahead, to accelerate and decelerate smoothly and efficiently. Cars burn more fuel when moving on from being stationary, so maintain a slow speed instead of stopping.
4 Under-inflated tyres are likely to increase fuel consumption and the number of CO2 emissions emitted. Adding pressure and pumping up tyres is cheap, and will give the vehicle greater rolling resistance, meaning you’ll burn through less fuel and be more efficient on the road. Check the manufacturer’s manual for pressures.
5 Many short journeys will be more detrimental to the environment than one long trip. To cut down on harmful emissions, try to combine shorter trips, or consider walking or cycling.
6 The oil in the engine is responsible for keeping important mechanisms in the vehicle clean, cool and running smoothly. It needs to be changed and topped up regularly, to keep the vehicle operating at optimal efficiency.
7 At the fuel station, you will notice that alongside diesel and unleaded, there are fuels labelled as ‘premium’ at a slightly higher cost. The premium fuels contain active cleaning agents that remove dirt from the engine, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Especially with new cars, it may be worth paying a little extra.
8 Every driver has a few bad habits. However, everyone can decrease their emissions by driving mindfully. Small changes can have a big impact on the pollution produced.
Consider changing gear earlier, staying out of the upper rev range, braking sooner and slowing down ahead of time to reduce wear and tear, and maintain efficiency in the process.
9 The older a vehicle is, the more dirt will have built up in the engine. This can be detrimental to performance,
reduce efficiency and increase emissions. Adding a cleaning agent into the fuel system will remove dirty deposits and lower emissions.
10 A newer car might be the best option to significantly reduce air pollutants, as manufacturers have to keep up to date with everchanging environmental legislation.
Air pollutants that escape from the exhaust of a vehicle include CO2, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and fine dust particles.
Harmful air pollutants can have a detrimental impact on the local environment, and the health of people and animals.
A spokesperson for LeaseCar.uk said: “These tips will help the environment, as less harmful pollutants will make it to our atmosphere, but they will also help you save a bit of money on fuel and reduce emissions on the road.”