Keeping your car in shape: Acceleration sense

Fuel consumption and the environmental benefits of advanced driving techniques go hand in hand. The key to both is "acceleration sense" - how you vary your foot pressure on the accelerator pedal so you don't have to brake.

One question you might ask yourself is: "What is the delay time between you lifting off the accelerator and applying the brake?"

One of the pillars of fuel-efficient driving is accelerating briskly to a safe cruising speed.

A good test is to imagine yourself somewhere that allows you to achieve an average speed of 50-80 km/h where you may need to brake regularly. Then increase that delay time: the longer you can avoid braking the more you are using the momentum you've built up.

Most drivers tend to go straight from accelerator to brake and that is when fuel consumption suffers.

And lastly, think long and hard about overtaking. Not only do you have to be sure you can get past safely, there is also the possibility that you are not gaining much in journey time.

Advanced driving is all about thinking ahead, sometimes further than you can see. It's not fuel-efficient driving if the driver you overtake is still right behind you when you reach the next urban area.