Younger drivers in the slow lane when it comes to fuel efficient driving

New survey reveals the young need more education on making energy efficient car choices

LONDON 28 October-2010 - energyrethinking.org, the community that helps people use less energy to save money, today releases the results of a survey examining the attitudes of 3,000 British motorists towards the environment and driving habits.

The research, commissioned by energyrethinking.org and supported by the Energy Saving Trust, Institute of Directors, Michelin, Shell and Tomorrow’s Company, looked at the behavioural differences in motorists across three age groups: the Starters (aged 17-24), the Midfielders (aged 25-44) and the Established (aged 45+).

Respondents across all age groups were equally concerned about the environment and their impact on it. They also showed a desire to save money by using less fuel, citing this as the number one motivation for using the car less.

Younger drivers are less fuel efficient
The findings highlight a stark contrast between the driving habits of younger and older drivers, with fuel efficient habits improving with age.

Starters are less likely to drive in a way that saves money and fuel. The research suggests this is because they lack the knowledge to do anything about it. It points to a direct correlation between a drivers’ age and knowledge about their cars’ fuel efficiency. Only 50% of Starters are aware of how fuel efficient their cars are, in comparison with more than 70% of Established drivers.



Starters are also the most likely to: use their cars for short journeys under a mile; care most about the image projected by the car they drive and show cynicism towards ‘green’ cars (hybrid/ electric/alternative fuel). They were also the age group most likely to believe their actions have no impact on the environment and that it is the responsibility of businesses and government to make a difference. However, lack of information may be a key reason younger drivers are adopting bad habits. When informed that grants are available for electric car ownership, the Starters were the most likely age group to then want to purchase one.

Nigel Underdown, Head of Transport Advice at the Energy Saving Trust commented: “However long you have been driving, and whether you care about the environment or are more interested in your back pocket, your driving style makes a huge difference to fuel consumption. Where possible we recommend that people use public transport, but we all know that it’s not always possible so while we wait for the typical British weather to improve and lure us out of our cars, learn a few smarter driving tips to get the pounds down!”

A change in the weather
The research also revealed that public transport isn’t the only answer to reducing car usage. While the research doesn’t promise an improvement to British weather, motorists would certainly consider using their cars less if the sun shone more. An appetite for losing a few pounds also seemed positive motivation to get people out of their cars and walking more.

“It’s really interesting to see this difference in attitude emerging," says energyrethinking.org editor Natalia Gameson. “Younger drivers are taught the theory of driving more efficiently to save fuel these days, but it’s evidently not the first thing they think of when they get behind the wheel. Better education is obviously needed to make drivers more aware of how changing their driving behaviour can translate into money saving.”

Smarter driving tips
Some of the ways to cut your driving costs include: easing your foot off the accelerator; sticking to the speed limit; being sparing with the air conditioning; avoiding excess idling; anticipating road and traffic conditions and making sure your tyres are correctly inflated – research from Michelin shows that under inflated tyres can increase your fuel consumption by 25%. A full list of driving tips can be found on http://www.energyrethinking.org/travel_and_transport

Energyrethinking.org is taking part in Energy Saving Week, run by the Energy Saving Trust. Visit http://www.energyrethinking.org to find more smarter driving tips and how to save money on transport.

About energyrethinking
Energy is a big part of our lives. It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without it. But energy is also a major cost – at home, at work, and while we’re travelling.

energyrethinking is all about finding ways to use energy better. It offers tips and simple advice that help save money by using less energy, reducing waste or – sometimes – not using energy at all. This is a space for learning from others, sharing your own views, and making new connections.

energyrethinking is a joint initiative underpinned by Shell with support from Energy Saving Trust, Institute of Directors, Michelin and Tomorrow’s Company. The site is independently managed by Burson-Marsteller, a leading communications agency, and independently edited by journalist Natalia Gameson.
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This release was published on openPR.