The fuel crisis has ravaged the British public within the last few weeks, leaving many motorists stranded and unable to make their essential journeys. However, with a few simple changes, you will be able to complete your everyday commute without joining the long lines at the petrol station.
Maintain Proper Tyre Inflation
Tyres are an essential asset to any car and must not be neglected. Not to mention, a flat tyre can negatively affect your car’s capabilities, including the amount of fuel you use. Research suggests that ‘every 1 per cent decrease in tyre pressure correlate[s] to a 0.3 per cent reduction in fuel economy.’ This may seem like only a small reduction in fuel, but over time, and in these difficult conditions, a deflated tyre can easily disrupt your driving experience and become more costly over time. Therefore, it is best to make sure that your tyres are inflated to their desired level before every trip and ensure that they are not damaged in any way.
Make Your Car More Aerodynamic
Most modern vehicles boast of aerodynamic features, such as fins to help the car glide smoothly across the road. However, there are more steps you can take to make your car less resistant to high winds. For example, try removing roof boxes and empty out the car boot to make the car lighter and more efficient. This means that the car is less likely to drag across the road and use less fuel overall.
Limit Your AC Use
In harsh weather conditions, your car’s air conditioning system may be deemed as essential. However, your car’s air conditioning system may be decreasing your fuel dramatically. Research suggests that using your air conditioning can increase your fuel consumption by 8-10%. This alarming statistic shows that air conditioning weighs a hefty toll on the fuel tank. As a result, experts advise that it is more beneficial to use your air conditioning at speeds over 50mph, as it counteracts the resistance brought on by high winds.
Plan Your Journey Ahead of Time
Lengthy journeys require a lot of planning, especially at the moment when petrol is scarce. Luckily, there are a variety of apps that can help you find the nearest petrol station. Even popular traffic apps, such as Waze can locate petrol stations in real time. This helps you to better organise your journey and remain safe on the road.
Pre-Book Parking to Stop Idle Driving
There is nothing worse than driving for hours on end, arriving at your destination and discovering that there’s nowhere to park. More often than not, we spend our precious time and petrol driving around aimlessly, trying to squeeze into a space. At Your Parking Space, we think parking should be simple. That is why you can pre-book a parking space at a variety of locations with ease using our app. Giving you the peace of mind that you can arrive at your destination safely and efficiently. Adding on to this, we offer the best price guaranteed, meaning that we make sure you will never overpay for your parking space with us.
The fuel crisis has placed a lot of people into deeply uncertain situations, which can negatively affect their livelihoods, if not solved soon. That being said, there are a multitude of ways to ensure that you arrive at your destination with fuel and safety in mind.
References
PTA Garage Services (2021), Does Air Con Use More Fuel?, Available at:
https://www.ptagarages.co.uk/blog/does-air-con-use-more-fuel/130
Cars Direct (2012), How to Reduce Fuel Consumption, Available at:
https://www.carsdirect.com/car-buying/10-ways-to-lower-engine-fuel-consumption
