BBC expert says everyone should reverse onto their driveaways
Harry Kind was on BBC Morning Live to share his top tips - and explained why people should park in a certain way
A BBC This Morning Live pundit has shed light on the long-debated question amongst drivers - whether reversing into your drive saves more fuel compared to going in forwards. While on the show with presenters Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones, consumer guru Harry Kind disclosed that indeed it could have a notable impact.
He revealed that even a slight reduction in speed on motorways could significantly reduce petrol expenses. He appeared on BBC Morning Live as figures from RAC Fuel Watch indicated a 2p decrease in May, presenting the lowest average fuel costs in almost four years.
Despite the fall, prices remain high at an average of 132.3p per litre for petrol and diesel at 138.4p. Mr Kind emphasised efficient driving habits as vital to conservation: "What makes a huge difference, way more than the price of fuel, is how you drive. A weird one to start with, which is quite fun, is that you should reverse into your parking space to save fuel."
"It doesn't seem like it would save you too much fuel." Cheeky host Gethin Jones said to co-presenter Helen Skelton: "Not if you're attempting it 8-10 times." Helen punched Gethin's arm in reply.
Mr Kind emphasised the importance of timing when trying multiple parking attempts: "If you're going to attempt it 8-10 times you're better doing that at the end of your journey, when your engine is nice and warm and efficient it's not wasting too much fuel rather than at the beginning of your journey when starting your car, it's got a cold engine and it can be up to 25 time less efficient than with a warmed up engine. And so if you're going to be faffing around with a parking space do that at the end of your journey when your car's hot not at the beginning." On BBC Morning Live, Helen said: "So I can faff - at the end of the journey."
To which Mr Kind added some advice on efficiency: "But I would also say reduce your faffing by combining as many journeys into one as possible. It's better to take on 25 mile journey than 25 one mile journey."
BBC Morning Live's 4 fuel saving tips
Reverse onto your driveway - your car is more efficient at the end of a journey than at the start for difficult manoeuvres which might need to be carried out a few times (if reversing off with cold engine it would be less efficient)
Reducing speed on motorways to 70mph (speed limit) saves 25 per cent
Plan journey - do one 25 mile outing rather than multiple trips
Close car windows at high speeds to reduce drag
He continued with advice on driving speeds: "When you are motoring along I would say reduce your speed. This is one of the biggest factors. The Department for Transport says that going down from 80 to 70 miles per hour saves you 25 per cent on your fuel and also it's not illegal."
Further savings can be made by reducing speed even more: "Then when you go down from 70 to 60 that will save you about 9 per cent. The savings get less and less as you get slower and slower."
For optimal fuel conservation, Mr Kind advises consistent driving habits: "When you're driving along at those speeds make sure you're going consistent, you're not breaking all the time and ideally use cruise control."
Rav Wilding mentioned that his car alerts him when he drives with the windows down, claiming it wastes fuel, and wondered if this was accurate. Mr Kind explained: "It's kind of telling the truth - if you were driving very fast then keeping your windows down will increase drag. That is bad for your car. If you're going slowly your air con is probably going to use a lot more fuel so it would be worth opening the windows on a hot day through a city to get rid of the hot air inside and if you are going to use air con use the recirculation mode. That will keep the cost down, but ultimately going down the motorway with your windows down - not so great."
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