Written by Menswear Style in Cars on the 12th January 2021

Driving is a huge part of our day-to-day lives, and yet emissions from vehicles continue to have hugely negative effects on our planet. Now, you might not be able to avoid driving altogether, however, there are a few things you can do to become a greener driver.

1. Adjust your driving habits 

Simple actions like adjusting your driving habits can help you to become a more earth-friendly driver. Most importantly, you should avoid aggressive driving and speeding. Habits like this could put yourself or other drivers in danger, while also wasting your fuel. When on the highway, try using cruise control, to ensure a constant speed. Use overdrive gears when reducing your engine speed, and this will prevent engine wear and tear, plus conserve gas.

2. Try an EV 

Investing in an electric vehicle is one of the best ways to become a more eco-friendly driver. EV’s have zero exhaust emissions, you’ll no longer be contributing to the pollution caused by traditional vehicles. To go even greener, you could use a form of renewable energy to power your EV. Electric vehicles tend to have lower running costs compared with traditional cars, so you’ll be saving money too. Another way to save cash on your car expenses is by buying used cars. 

3 . Careful maintenance 

To become a greener driver, it’s important to maintain your car correctly. First off, you’ll need to ensure that your tires are always inflated correctly, as this will help to improve your gas mileage. It’s also a good idea to check your oxygen sensor, to make sure all is in good working order. A faulty oxygen sensor can negatively affect your gas mileage. Besides this, ensure that you choose motor oil that is labeled as energy conserving. Schedule your car in for regular maintenance checks, and consider using apps such as ‘Car Minder’, to keep track of your maintenance needs.

4. Plan your route 

With careful planning of your journey, you can ensure the quickest route, meaning you’ll be producing fewer emissions, and reducing your mileage. It can be as easy as using Apple maps for driving directions to your work office and vice-versa. Another way to reduce your emissions is to avoid driving during peak times, meaning you’ll avoid heavy traffic. To plan your journey it can be helpful to use apps like Waze. The app offers regularly updated traffic info, and suggests alternative routes, helping you to avoid traffic. With a clear route plan, you’ll save time, go green, and avoid getting lost!  

Last up, remember that you don’t always have to rely on your car for every journey. You might like to try taking a walk, or a bike ride, where possible, to reduce your carbon footprint. Car-sharing apps are another great way to go green, a few of the popular options include Turo and ZipCar. When you make a few changes to your lifestyle, it’s surprising how easy it is to go green. Lastly, if you’re buying a new car, look out for eco-friendly cars, as some models are far more earth-kind than others.

We provide tips such as adjust your driving habits, try an EV, careful maintenance, and plan your route in this blog post on 4 Ways to be a greener driver.