How to master eco-safe driving as a learner

Eco-safe driving is another aspect of your driving test, but what is it and how can you master it? We answer all your questions here.

What is eco-safe driving?

Eco-safe driving is a style of driving that helps reduce the impact your vehicle has on the living environment.

Transport, and especially carbon fuelled vehicles, accounts for about a fifth of all air pollution emissions globally so it is crucial that something is done to counter those effects.

How can I drive in an eco-safe manner?

Eco-safe driving is not about driving at lower speeds — although this would help reduce fuel consumption and accidents — it is more about avoiding wastage of fuel through unnecessary acceleration or braking, and inefficient use of the gears and speed.

Hazard perception, defensive driving and progressive driving play a big part in eco-safe driving as they help you to avoid inefficient use of the accelerator, brake and gears.

Eco-safe driving and your driving test

On your test your driving examiner will rate your eco-safe driving, though your performance won’t ultimately influence the decision as to whether you pass or fail your test. The examiner will however provide feedback on how eco-safe your driving was.

The examiner will want learners to display a number of eco-safe driving skills, including the following.

Eco-safe driving: Control

1. Minimisation of aggressive or rapid acceleration. Instead, when it is safe to do so, a gradual increase in speed is desirable with gentle depression of the accelerator.
2. Use of higher gears as soon as possible without making the engine labour. Avoid engaging unnecessary intermediate gear changes so that you can more quickly engage higher gears or delay engaging lower gears. 

Eco-safe driving: Planning

1. Minimisation of harsh braking and not stopping when you don’t need to. Read the road ahead and if you see you will need to slow down, do so gradually using engine braking rather than the brakes. Gradually adjust your speed to time your arrival at junctions and hold-ups. 
2. Read the road ahead to ensure that any acceleration now will not be wasted because you will be held up just a short distance further along the road. If you are going downhill, ease up on the accelerator but maintain a safe speed.

The do’s and don’ts of eco-safe driving 

The do’s:

• Do plan your route to avoid congestion
• Do try to travel at off-peak times
• Do consider using cruise control where appropriate
• Do check your fuel economy regularly
• Do try to reverse into parking spaces so you can drive out of it as manoeuvring while the engine is cold uses more fuel

The don’ts:

• Don’t over rev the engine while waiting to move off
• Don’t use excessive acceleration to pull away
• Don’t remain in a low gear, or change into a lower gear, unnecessarily
• Don’t exceed speed limits
• Don’t tailgate as it will result in continual harsh braking

• Don’t wait until the last minute to brake
• Don’t overtake at every opportunity, especially on congested roads where there will be little benefit

Eco-safe driving: before you set out

There are also a number of steps you can take to help you become a good eco-safe driver before you set off on your journey. This includes:

• Regularly check your tyres are correctly inflated (including the spare)
• Not carrying unnecessary weight
• Removing the roof rack or luggage box and bicycle rack when not needed
• Keeping your car well maintained to optimise fuel consumption

Be smart by eco-smart driving, be sensible by trying Sterling

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