Eco-Friendly Driving Guide

These days, many people are looking for ways to be more environmentally conscious. And while driving is a major contributor to climate change, it’s often unavoidable. Unless you live somewhere you can walk, bike, or take public transportation to get anywhere you need to go, you’ll need to rely on a motor vehicle for transportation, whether you’re driving, carpooling, or ridesharing.

The good news is, there are ways to make your driving more environmentally friendly. And in addition to helping our planet, these tips can help your wallet.

Reduced Vehicle Wear And Rear

Driving in a way that isn’t eco-friendly can speed up the wear and tear on your vehicle. Fast braking, acceleration, and gear changes can all cause you to need to repair and replace vehicle parts more quickly. Eco-driving will not only save you money at the mechanic, but it will also help your vehicle run more safely.

Increased Driving Safety

Speeding and driving aggressively take a toll both on your planet and your wallet, but they can also result in injuries to you or others.

Changing your driving habits may not seem to have that big of an impact, but consider that nearly 39,000 people died in car accidents in 2020.³ Even small changes in driving habits can bring that number down.

As an added bonus, driving safely can save you money. If you have a bad driving record, you’ll likely pay more for car insurance, and vice versa.

2. Stick to the Speed Limit

Not only is sticking to the speed limit better for the environment, but it will also save you money on fuel. And it’s one of the easiest habits you can adopt to make your driving more eco-friendly.

3. Avoid Unnecessary Idling

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, vehicle idling uses between a quarter-gallon and a half-gallon of fuel each hour. You can save money by reducing your idling by as little as one minute.

If you’re waiting somewhere or making a quick stop, turn your car off instead of leaving it idling. If you let your car idle to warm it up in the winter, only do so for as long as necessary.

4. Maintain the Correct Tire Pressure

Maintaining the correct tire pressure doesn’t just help you drive more safely; it also improves your fuel economy. Keeping your tires properly inflated with regular maintenance can improve your gas mileage by an average of 0.6 percent, and in some cases, by as much as 3 percent.⁵

5. Don’t Haul Cargo on Your Roof

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, hauling cargo on your roof makes your car less aerodynamic, which means it’s less fuel-efficient.

Rather than hauling cargo on your roof, try hauling it on the back of your car. A cargo box on your roof can reduce your fuel economy by between 2 and 8 percent in cities, between 6 and 17 percent on highways, and between 10 and 25 percent on interstates.

Meanwhile, a rear-mounted cargo box only reduces your fuel economy by between 1 and 2 percent in cities and between 1 and 5 percent on highways. Fuel economy information on rear-mounted cargo boxes is not available for interstates

6. Use Your Cruise Control

Making use of your cruise control can help you save money on gas. As we mentioned, reducing your driving speed can help improve your fuel economy. Cruise control can help you do that more consistently.

7. Practice Smooth Braking and Accelerating

Fast braking and acceleration can cause wear and tear on your vehicle and reduce your car’s fuel economy. In fact, aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by as much as 15 to 30 percent on highways and 10 to 40 percent in cities.

As an added bonus, improving your braking and acceleration can help you save money. Many insurance companies offer discounts to safe drivers. These companies track your driving habits and then reward you if you meet certain standards. An example is Allstate’s Drivewise program.

8. Properly Maintain Your Car

Regular car maintenance is another strategy for eco-friendly driving. Steps such as getting regular oil changes, changing your oil filters, and getting regular engine tune-ups improve your fuel efficiency.

9. Reduce Extra Weight on Your Vehicle

Excess weight on your vehicle can reduce its fuel efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, every extra 100 pounds in your vehicle reduces your miles per gallon by roughly 1 percent. While extra weight in your vehicle isn’t always avoidable, you can be more thoughtful about driving with heavy objects in your car unnecessarily.

10. Use Your Car’s Eco Mode

Many cars have an eco mode that reduces your car’s engine output, which improves its fuel economy. Turning on this eco mode will help you to get more miles per gallon and reduce the amount you spend on gas.

Bonus Tip: Avoid Unnecessary Driving

The more time you spend driving, the larger your carbon footprint. An easy way to be more environmentally conscious with your driving is to do less of it.

You can make changes to your driving habits, like taking the fastest route to your destination or avoiding driving “just because.”

You can also trade driving your own vehicle for more environmentally friendly options, like public transportation and carpools. If you live nearby the places you travel to, consider walking or using a bike or scooter instead of a car.

Finally, telecommuting to work instead of going into the office can make a big difference in your carbon emissions. Not only will you reduce your environmental impact, but you’ll also save a lot of money on gas by getting rid of your daily commute.