Driving fuel-efficiently could not only save you money but also reduce your chance of being involved in a crash, according to a new study.

A joint research project from the AA Research Foundation and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) compiled the results of studies into fuel-efficient driving programmes from around the world to evaluate the potential benefits for drivers.

The findings indicated that not only do drivers have the potential to save 5-10% off their fuel bill by adopting fuel-efficient driving techniques but there is a road-safety benefit as well.

One study of 350 drivers working for Canon found they had 35% fewer crashes after adopting fuel-efficient driving techniques, while a German company’s fleet experienced a 25% reduction in crashes and a truck operator in New Zealand recorded 56% fewer safety incidents over six months.

“The safety benefits of fuel-efficient driving haven’t had much investigation before now, so these results were really interesting,” says AA Research Foundation spokesperson Mike Noon.

“But it stands to reason that, if drivers are trying to get the most out of their fuel by being more aware of their driving and what is happening on the road around them, there are likely to be safety benefits as well.

“This is only stage one of the research project and more investigation needs to be undertaken but it hints at some real opportunities for drivers to cut their costs, their vehicle emissions and their chances of being involved in a crash all at the same time.”

Previous AA testing has found simple behaviours like driving smoothly with less hard acceleration and braking, and keeping tyres fully inflated can have a dramatic effect on fuel consumption. However, this research highlighted one of the challenges of fuel-efficient driving, which is getting drivers to maintain these good habits long term.

While many programmes reported participants achieving fuel savings of as much as 25% initially or in a controlled environment, the research project found that studies which monitored drivers over a longer period recorded real-world savings of 5-10% as drivers seemingly reverted towards their original driving habits. To put that in perspective though, even reducing your fuel bill by 5% is the equivalent of saving 10 cents per litre.

Drivers who were provided with some form of ongoing feedback reinforcing fuel-efficient driving techniques seemed to achieve better savings over the medium-term.

A companion study of New Zealand AA Members found that while nearly 90% of respondents thought fuel-efficient driving was a good idea, only about 30% knew three or more fuel-efficient driving tips.

Many also had an incorrect view that fuel-efficient driving was only of benefit on long journeys, when the principles are just as relevant for inner-city driving and short trips.

“This research has confirmed that fuel-efficient driving can save you money and be better for the environment,” says Transport Partnerships Manager Elizabeth Yeaman.

“If you aren’t doing it already, you could save the equivalent of 10 cents a litre or more[1] simply by avoiding hard acceleration and braking, regularly checking your tyre pressure and not carrying unnecessary baggage.

“If just a third of the drivers on our roads consistently used fuel-efficient driving techniques it could save New Zealand up to 70 million litres in fuel worth $145 million1 each year and significantly reduce our country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Yeaman said.

“At a time when everyone is focussed on being more economically and environmentally sustainable, this is a positive action that every driver can take. Fuel-efficient driving doesn’t require special training, these are simple principles that anyone can adopt to achieve considerable benefits.”

Top tips for fuel-efficient driving

• Accelerate smoothly and slowly
• Slow down early rather than braking late
• Keep a good following distance
• Ensure your tyres are correctly inflated
• Remove unnecessary baggage from your car

For more information contact:

Mike Noon
General Manager: Motoring Affairs
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. (04) 931 9984
M. 021 659 704
Email:  mnoon@aa.co.nz

Erika Harrison
Communications Advisor
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
T. (04) 470 2411