How to get the best from your engine

Government transport advisors have advised drivers to become greener drivers. A Midlands-based company has launched a brand new ‘Eco Driving’ course to help drivers learn exactly how to adapt their driving styles to become greener without investing in a new car or finding alternative modes of transport.

Trent Safety People’s course teaches car owners and fleet drivers the practical side of greener driving, showing them how to achieve the maximum fuel economy to reduce their carbon footprint in terms of CO2 emissions and lowering noise levels as well as saving money and improving driver safety.

Apparently after completing the training motorists are seeing on average 15% reductions in their fuel consumption – the equivalent to saving £6 on a £40 fill-up.

The course, which lasts between one and a half and two hours, has been devised by Michael Pattinson (CMIOSH, MIIRSM, Dip Fleet. DSA Fleet) based on schemes running on the Continent. He says: “Everyone has their own driving style and this course shows how Eco Driving can be undertaken in the everyday situations motorists face.

“We use a mixture of demonstration and driver practise to show how drivers can get the best out of their engines in their normal driving situations with the least impact on the environment. The principals are very easy to learn and will stay with you for life.”

As outlined on Trent Safety People’s website this experiential training enhances a driver’s safety and awareness on the road, and gives techniques covering vehicle balance, safe positioning, gear change reduction and how to save fuel. Demonstration and driver practise occur throughout the session to maximise the learning experience.

Eco driving has been used on the continent for a number of years and in many countries is now included in their learner driving programs.

Despite the developments made in producing fuel efficient engines and cars that have lower emissions, very few drivers know how to get the best out of their engines. The Eco Driving idea is to adopt a driving style that suits today’s modern engine technology and ‘smart, smooth and safe’ driving techniques can yield fuel savings in the region of 10%, with additional benefits of lower CO2 emissions and reduced noise levels.

More information: www.how2ecodrive.com