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The Golden Fuel: Limiting The Use Of Petrol
With 81 per cent of men and 63 per cent of women in the UK holding a driving licence in 2006, huge numbers of people obviously view a car as an essential part of their everyday lives. Whether it is used for business, driving to work, taking the children to school or simply for pleasure, a vehicle is something most British people feel they cannot live without.
The cost of keeping such a vehicle can be difficult to manage though. Buying a car in the first place can easily set an owner back by a few thousand pounds. Road tax must be paid on the vehicle, insurance is essential and a legal requirement and there is the added cost of physical maintenance - MOTs, servicing, making alterations and even simple cleaning.
The most consistent cost for most drivers, however, is fuelling, and the UK is actually the most expensive place to buy petrol in the developed world. Prices change quickly and often, with many drivers becoming angry as a result. For example, in 2001, many retailers cut the price of unleaded fuel by 1p, following a fall in crude oil prices in December of that year. Motorists at that time accused those retailers of making a token gesture, due to large cost increases prior to the drop.
Luckily for many motorists, there are ways to ensure fuel consumption is kept to a minimum. Simple alterations to a driver's usual techniques can make a huge difference. Some methods of improving vehicle fuel economy are: avoiding sudden starts and stops, keeping tires inflated to the recommended pressure, avoiding the use of air conditioning and coasting down hills. Simply by driving more slowly and avoiding unnecessary use of the accelerator, a driver can help reduce their petrol consumption.
There are also methods that don't relate to actual driving techniques. Driving less is the most obvious way to cut petrol use, but is something many people simply cannot do. A carpool with friends or colleagues can be an alternative, as can making a commute shorter by working closer to home or moving closer to work, or even buying a smaller car that burns less fuel.
Combining a few small trips and taking just one longer journey, or parking in the first space available, are effective techniques that will cut fuel costs in the long term, as is filling up the tank fully to avoid making extra trips purely to buy more petrol. Making these kinds of decisions can affect a daily lifestyle of drivers, but could well be worth it as they will certainly save money.
It is important that drivers do not cut costs when it comes to certain aspects of their car use, however. Finding the right car insurance, paying road tax and maintaining a vehicle are all essential motoring outlays for any driver. If drivers can avoid the need to constantly pay out for petrol, however, owning a car can be more affordable and can allow an owner the extra funds to pay for other pleasures.
About the Author Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content. |
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