Drivers admit they don’t try to save fuel with petrol and diesel owners paying more
Motorists across the UK are not benefitting from major fuel savings despite petrol and diesel owners still facing hefty fees.
Hundreds of British drivers admit they do not actively try to save fuel while behind the wheel - despite petrol and diesel costs still being high.
A new poll from Express.co.uk, which took place from June 19-July 4, found more than a third of road users (35.07 percent) said they usually do nothing to cut down on consumption.
It means road users are likely paying more than they should be on vehicle running costs with budgets still tight this summer.
It comes after motoring experts shared a range of fuel-saving tips in recent months from coasting to cutting down on air conditioning use.
Others have also mentioned how changing journey times to avoid traffic could help save on consumption while closing windows while travelling may be a benefit.
The most common fuel-saving method adopted by road users was simply slowing down, with 30.53 percent embracing this strategy.
According to breakdown and car insurance specialists at the RAC, keeping momentum and driving at the right speed is key to cutting down on fuel use.
They explained: “The best advice is to drive as smoothly as possible, gently using the steering, accelerator and brakes.
“When slowing down, it’s important to remain in gear as the fuel cut-off switch in a fuel injection engine is then activated, meaning virtually no fuel is used while braking.
“Try to anticipate what’s going to happen in front of you by looking well ahead.”
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Specialists at MotorEasy have indicated that reducing motorway speed from 70mph to 55mph can reduce fuel use by a staggering 25 percent.
According to the Express poll, which had 1,473 respondents, 17.16 percent admit they change the time of their journeys to avoid traffic.
It comes after experts at Michelin warned that fuel use could rise by an eye-watering 90 percent while sitting in heavy traffic on motorways.
This could even jump up by 175 percent in urban areas with rush hour likely to be the worst time to travel.
The new Express poll found 12.89 percent avoid switching on their air conditioning while behind the wheel while 4.34 percent always keep their windows closed.
Using air conditioning puts greater strain on the engine which will in turn use up more fuel.
Meanwhile, the AA stressed that opening a window creates more drag which can have an impact on fuel use even if it seems harmless.
They commented: “When the weather warms up, it’s very tempting to crack open a window to let more air in the car and cool you down.
"However, if you do this on the move it can have a negative effect on fuel economy, particularly at higher speeds.
“That’s because it creates more drag, which essentially means the car has to work harder to get up to speed, therefore using more fuel in the process.”