10 tips for driving home for Christmas

by CCCS on 21 December 2011  |  9 comments
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If you're driving home this Christmas, find out how to keep the costs down!

It’s that time of year when we start to make plans for travelling over the festive period to see loved ones across the country, singing the Chris Rea song along the way – we’re driving home for Christmas!

It’s all too easy to jump in the car and set off, without a thought for how to drive economically, to help not only the environment but also your wallet.

It’s amazing how the costs can mount up without us even realising. According to Credit Action, the average family car now costs £5,869 a year to keep on the road, which equates to £112.87 per week or 48.91p per mile.

With this in mind there are lots of tips to help you save money over the busy festive period by driving more efficiently. Not only will these help you to reduce your fuel consumption but more importantly they will also help to keep you and your family safe.

1. Don’t forget to check your tyre pressure at least once a month. It doesn’t cost much and according to the International Energy Agency, under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%.

2. Has your car had its winter service? Maintained cars operate more efficiently and help reduce CO2 emissions.

3. Don’t pack everything including the kitchen sink! Leave behind those non essential items, because the more weight there is, the more the engine has to work, using more fuel.

4. We know it’s obvious in winter, but keep those windows closed! Open windows increase wind resistance and increase the amount of fuel you use. If you have an empty roof rack, you could consider removing this too because every little helps.

5. Don’t be too quick to turn the seat warmers on. Like air conditioning, it uses more fuel.

6. Stick to the speed limit - which should go without saying - but also drive smoothly. Every time you accelerate or brake suddenly, your engine uses more fuel and produces more CO2.

7. Try to anticipate the flow of the traffic to avoid unnecessary stopping and starting – every time you brake you’ll need to use fuel in accelerating afterwards.

8. Don’t leave the engine idling for more than one minute. Modern engines shut off while sitting at the lights to save fuel, but this is still an emerging technology.

9. When increasing speed, change to higher gears as soon as possible. This is more economical in terms of fuel consumption.

10. For further tips on driving in winter, take a look at the Highways Agency and read Protect your car from costly winter crises. Finally, always remember to drive to the conditions of the road. Be ready to ditch these trips if weather conditions worsen!

Have you got any more ideas for saving money on car journeys? Perhaps taking your own sandwiches rather than stopping at the services, or travelling early or late to avoid the traffic? And how far are you driving home for Christmas?