Buying a fuel-efficient vehicle is only the first step towards achieving good fuel economy.  Your driving habits can also make a difference to the fuel economy achieved.  Follow these tips for more fuel-efficient driving.

Tune in to radio for updates on traffic conditions, so that you can avoid getting trapped in traffic jams that could lead to increased fuel consumption.

You can also visit the Land Transport Authority's EMAS, which provides one-stop, comprehensive real-time traffic information for travellers to make well-informed travel decisions.

Defensive Driving

Aggressive driving leads to increased fuel consumption and pollution.  By practicing defensive driving (i.e. anticipating traffic conditions ahead and reacting accordingly), you would not only be making your trip safer, but also more environmentally friendly.

For example, you can achieve higher fuel efficiency by taking your foot off the accelerator when approaching traffic lights and coasting towards it to avoid last minute braking when the light turns red.

Using cruise control on the highway to maintain your speed constant and can help improve fuel efficiency.  The optimal driving speed for best fuel economy is about 60 to 85 km/h.  Higher speeds lead to excessive fuel consumption and increased pollution.

Don't drive at higher speeds with windows wide open. It increases the aerodynamic drag on the highway and lowers fuel economy.

Operating an air-conditioner in hot weather can increase fuel consumption by more than 20% in city driving. Therefore park in the shade to keep car cool and reduce the need for air-conditioner or use the vent setting as much as possible to minimize the use of air conditioning.

It is advisable to switch off your engine if you are leaving your engine to idle for more than a minute.  Excessive idling not only wastes fuel and pollutes the environment, but it also contaminates your engine oil and wears out engine components.  Vehicles with larger engines waste more fuel than those with smaller engines when idling.

Minimize the amount of time your vehicle idles by consider parking instead of using drive-up lanes.

Driving in a gear lower than required as well as “lugging” your engine on slopes increases fuel consumption.

To achieve better fuel economy on a manual transmission vehicle, switch to the highest gear quickly without straining the engine.

Automatic transmission vehicles will shift up the gears more quickly and smoothly if you ease back slightly on the accelerator when the car has gathered sufficient momentum.

No Wearving In and Out of Traffic

Studies has shown that fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic, accelerating to and from a stop light actually doesn't save much time, as a result it wastes more fuel and wears out some of the car components like brakes and tires faster.

Start car and immediately, but gently, drive away. Don't leave car idling. Today's engines don't need to be warmed up. Prolonged idling creates excess emissions and wastes fuel at the same time.

Start slowly, avoiding rapid acceleration. Jackrabbit starts are fuel wasters.

Some motorists fail to make use of handbrakes when stopping their vehicles on a slope. Instead, they either ride the clutch (for manual transmission vehicles) or use the accelerator (for automatic transmission vehicles) to keep the vehicles from rolling backwards. This also leads to unnecessary fuel consumption.

Drive and maintain safe distance of at least 1 meter from stationary vehicles and pedestrians, and 1.5 meter if they are moving or follow the 3 second rule.

A vehicle engine will give the optimum engine performance when you use the fuel specified by the manufacturer. Read your owner's manual to find out what your vehicle really needs.