Environment, fuel-efficient and considerate driving
Environment, fuel-efficient and considerate driving questions test whether you can reduce fuel use, emissions and nuisance without compromising safety. The exam rewards smooth planning and courtesy, not gimmicks.
Efficient technique
Accelerate progressively and shift up early in a manual car; use the highest sensible gear. Read the road far ahead and ease off early for junctions, lights and bends instead of braking late. Keep tyres at the correct pressure, remove unnecessary roof racks and weight, and avoid idling. Plan routes and combine errands.
Considerate driving
Use lights correctly and avoid dazzling others. Give cyclists and pedestrians room, slow near schools and residential streets, and keep noise down at night. Do not block junctions, bus stops or crossings. In winter, avoid spraying pedestrians with slush and clear snow from lights and plates.
Worked example
You approach a red light 200 metres ahead. You release the accelerator and coast down, arriving as the light changes. You avoid a hard stop and a hard acceleration, saving fuel and reducing brake wear. You leave the roof box at home for a solo trip.
Traps
Coasting in neutral downhill is not a safe fuel-saving method; you lose engine braking. Eco-driving does not mean driving slowly in the wrong gear or blocking traffic. Idling to warm up wastes fuel and is unnecessary. A roof box left on increases drag on every trip.