The Environment Matters....

Gatley School of Motoring

The Environment Matters....

We are all more aware of the effects driving cars is having on the environment and with some 30 million plus vehicles on the roads of the UK we all have a responsibillity to ensure we drive and use our vehicles in a more environmentaly friendly way.

Here at Gatley School of Motoring not only will you be taught to drive to a high standard in respect of driver control and road safety you will also be instructed in the latest techniques regarding environmentaly friendly drivng.

In recognition of our commitment to helping the environment we all live in and to furture generations of road users we have committed ourselves to donating £5 to The Woodland Trust the UK's leading woodland conservation charity for each customer who passes their test with the with the Gatley School of Motoring.

Top Tips For environmently friendly driving:

You could be using 30 per cent more fuel than you need to. That's because the way you drive and how you look after your car directly affects how much fuel you use.

* Drive smoothly and use 20 per cent less fuel - no erratic speeding up and slowing down. It's also much safer and will do wonders for your stress levels!

* Drive in the right gear - too low or too high gears use more fuel.

* Turn off the engine if you will be waiting for more than 30 seconds - idling for longer than that uses more petrol than restarting the engine.

* Slow down - high speed means high fuel consumption.

* Don't 'warm-up' your car while stationary - it will warm up as you drive.

* Switch off the air conditioning - you use about 10 per cent more fuel with it on.

* Travel light - remove unnecessary things from the boot and any roof racks you're not using. It takes more fuel to carry that extra weight around.

* Skip the car for short trips - your car's pollution control equipment only works effectively once the engine is warm so short trips generate much more pollution. Walk or ride instead.

* Try car pooling to work and pooling with other parents to drive children to sport or school.

* Plan your trip - good planning avoids delays and means you can all your errands in one trip.

* Keep your car regularly tuned and maintained and cut car pollution by up to 25 per cent - you'll also save on fuel consumption.

* In summer, refuel your car during a cooler part of the day or when it is overcast. The hotter it is, the faster the petrol will evaporate and create toxic vapours. Remember one click from the pump means the tank is full - overfilling can cause spills and even more fumes. Always keep petrol tanks and containers tightly sealed.