7 errors costing you over £200 a 12 months on gasoline – from boot litter to missed tyre checks
Kevin Booker who holds six Guinness World Records for ‘efficient driving’ has revealed everyday tips that could save you vital cash at the pumps
Buying a car is seen as an unnecessary expense(Image: Getty Images)
As diesel prices hit an all-time high and petrol continues to soar, help is here. A bloke who holds six Guinness World Records for “efficient driving” has revealed everyday tips that could save the average driver around £200 a year on fuel.
Some 62% of Brits have cut back on their driving to save cash due the spiralling cost of living this year, while 63% now only drive when necessary, Dacia research found.
But Kevin Booker, from Wales, who has a total of six Guinness World Records for fuel-efficient driving, or ‘hypermiling’, has revealed the simple mistakes many of us are making.
He tested his tips in the Dacia Duster Journey hybrid 155 and managed 79 miles per gallon real-world driving – compared with its official economy figure of 61.4mpg. The hybrid 155 combines a petrol engine with two electric motors, for optimum performance, and is priced from £21,845 new.
On Monday (28 September), diesel prices hit an all-time high of 199.18p per litre, according to the RAC, with petrol costing 174.13p. The RAC said diesel prices had entered ‘uncharted territory’ and served as a reminder of “just how exposed the UK is”.
These tips could save you cash
A Dacia spokesperson said: “People can’t control the price at the pump, but simple changes to how they drive and maintain their car can help each tank go further.”
Diesel in particular has soared by 40% since America’s war in Iran began at the end of February. Petrol prices have risen by 41p per litre, but are still lower than the 2022 peak sparked by Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine. Based on Kevin’s result, a driver covering 7,100 miles a year could save around £204 at current petrol prices. That’s enough to cover the cost of a monthly TV streaming service, with spare change. For someone driving 10,000 miles a year, the illustrated saving rises to nearly £290.
Kevin, whose tips include clearing clutter from the boot, said: “Being heavy with the throttle and brakes wastes energy.” He added: “Efficiency is not just about the car you buy, but how you use it.”
Top insider tips
1. Look further ahead. Spotting traffic and junctions early gives you more time to slow down gently, instead of braking hard and accelerating again.
2. Empty the boot. Carrying things you don’t need adds weight and makes the car work harder. Take off any unused roof boxes or racks too, as they create drag.
3. Keep a steady motorway speed. Repeatedly accelerating and overtaking can use more fuel without making much difference to your arrival time.
4. Check your tyres. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance. Check them regularly against the pressures recommended for your car.
5. Make use of hills. Anticipate the road and carry momentum where it’s safe. In a hybrid, slowing on a descent can also help recover energy through regenerative braking.
6. Take corners smoothly. Get down to an appropriate speed before the bend, then avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration as you go through it.
7. Keep up with servicing. A properly maintained car is more likely to run efficiently, so don’t neglect routine servicing and the correct oil and components.
Kevin said: “I’ve already seen around a 29% improvement, and the aim of these sessions is to show drivers that efficiency is not just about the car you buy, but how you use it.”
After Monday’s shocking figures, the cost of filling up the average family car with fuel is now £100 – while the average petrol motor sits at £95.83. Dacia’s survey of 1,000 UK drivers found 63% now only drive when necessary, while 44% said they try to maintain a steady speed on motorways.
Lina Ribeiro, Dacia Brand Director for the UK: “Dacia has always been about giving people the freedom to explore, without asking them to spend more than they need to.
“With family budgets under pressure and an expensive winter ahead for Brits. Duster hybrid 155 is exactly the kind of car we believe in: practical, robust, efficient and ready for real life. With Kevin’s advice, families can afford to venture even further afield.”
The savings are illustrations based on Kevin’s 61.4mpg and 79mpg figures in the petrol hybrid Duster, with petrol at 174.13p per litre. At 7,100 miles a year, the calculated saving is around £204 (rounded to £200 in the opening); at 10,000 miles, it is around £287. What an individual motorist saves will depend on their vehicle, mileage, fuel price and driving conditions.
