Smarter Cabbies

Earlier this year, Shell teamed up with the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA) and The AA to challenge 18 cab drivers across 10 cities in the UK to see if they could become more fuel efficient and save money by changing the way they drive. The goal was to reduce their fuel consumption by 10% over four weeks.

“Eighteen of us were invited down to London to learn about eco-driving and saving fuel,” explains competition winner, Bernie Searle from Norfolk.

Bernie is a self-employed taxi driver and has been operating in the Norfolk area for 20 years. Prior to the competition, Bernie was spending about £1,000 a month on fuel and driving 1,000 miles a week. Through the course, Bernie learnt tips such as checking your tyre pressure and removing excess weight from the car.

Throughout the four weeks of the competition, the drivers were measured on their driving performance and efficiency improvement. Bernie was the winner as he managed to stick to the new driving rules he’d learnt and had the highest reduction in fuel consumption.

I was interested to take part but quite sceptical at first. They told us we could save 15-20% on our fuel, which is pretty much what I achieved. They gave us various tips, but I wasn’t sure it would make any difference. It’s not one thing on its own, but when you add them all together they really make a difference.

“Things like having your tyres at the correct pressure can reduce your fuel usage by 3%. I didn’t know that before. I also took the golf clubs out of my car to reduce the weight. And I’ve found that the cheaper fuel isn’t always the best – I’ve switched to a more expensive grade but I get more miles to the gallon.”

Bernie’s impressed with the amount he’s saved and says he’ll share the tips with his wife and other drivers, so they can save fuel too. “I’m hooked now; I wouldn’t go back to how I was driving before. I’m saving about £150-£200 a month on my fuel bill.” It just goes to show that anyone can learn more about their driving and change their behaviour.

The fuel saving facts

• The cab drivers reduced their fuel consumption by an average of 20% in the four weeks of the competition
• If they maintain their new driving techniques, they could save as much as £1,552 a year
• Based on these results, an average driver could save £544 a year in fuel costs
• If all of the UK’s 34.1 million drivers applied these techniques, they could make a collective saving of up to £18.5 billion

Service your engine
A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy, so change your oil and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

Use the correct oil
Always use the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the manufacturer’s recommended lubricant can improve fuel efficiency.

Keep tyres at the right pressure
Correctly inflated tyres are safer and last longer. A tyre that is under inflated by 10% can reduce fuel economy.

Keep the windows closed
Wind blowing through an open window will slow you down. To compensate, you may put your foot down harder – using more fuel.

Use air conditioning sparingly
Air conditioning puts added load on the engine and uses fuel to operate, so limit use to particularly hot days.

Use higher gear
The higher the gear you drive in, the lower your engine speed. So change up a gear whenever you can, without labouring the engine. Change gear in good time when you pull away or when you’re accelerating. Never ‘redline’ the rev counter.

Use cruise control
Using cruise control on major roads helps you maintain a constant speed and, in many cases, will improve fuel consumption.

Avoid high speeds
The faster you go the more wind resistance you’ll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed. Driving just a few miles per hour under the motorway or national speed limit can improve fuel economy.

Take the roof rack off
If you’re not using your roof rack then remove it. It affects the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle by creating extra drag, reducing fuel economy.

Drive smoothly
Aggressive driving can use as much as a third more fuel than smooth driving. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your steering as smooth as possible.

Conserve momentum
Think ahead when you’re driving. For example, slow down early to let traffic lights change, rather than stopping completely, or speed up a little before you reach the foot of a hill. Leave a sensible distance between yourself and the car ahead to give you ample time to brake evenly.

Avoid excess idling
Idling gets you nowhere but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue, or waiting for someone. As a rule if you think you will be stopped for more than 10 seconds, switch your engine off.

Plan trips carefully
Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey.

Avoid carrying excess weight
you may be surprised, but every extra pound or kilogram matters and affects your fuel efficiency. So keep your boot and back seat clear of unnecessary items that just add weight to your vehicle (e.g. golf clubs).

Fuel matters
All fuels are not the same. Your fuel economy can be improved through a combination of good driving habits and using the right fuel.