A greener driving test

driving test candidates will in future have to show they can save fuel as well. Fuel efficiency - or eco-driving - is to be made part of the driving test from 2008

Of course the numbers taking their test in any year is a drop in the ocean beside the 30 million drivers in this country, so let's hope that this is not the only fuel efficiency measure that the government are going to be promoting with regard to cars. The article takes to heart the 30 million people already licensed and offers tips on driving more fuel-efficiently:

Drive more smoothly: harsh accelerating and braking use up much more fuel
· Avoid excessive speed, especially on motorways
· Watch ahead to anticipate when to slow down or stop well in advance
· Change gear as soon as possible, ideally around 1,500-2,500 revs
· Once the engine is warm, turn it off if you are going to stop for longer than a minute
· Keep tyre pressure at right level
· Take any excess baggage out of the car, and racks and boxes off the roof
· Switch off or turn down air conditioning and heating
· Avoid unnecessary trips
· Buy a more efficient car

There are also some interesting titbits in the article such as:

The Lib Dems will push to raise the top car tax rate from £210 to £2,000 for the most polluting vehicles, including many 4x4s and BMW 7 series models this week. The move, which would apply only to vehicles being registered for the first time, will be launched as an amendment to the finance bill, which puts the Budget into law. It will be seen as a bid to embarrass Labour and the Tories into backing them or having to defend their opposition while vying for the green vote.

Which may be interesting if they can pull it off.

question is whether drivers will bother to change their habits when the average saving will be about £2 a week - less than the price of a large cup of coffee in many cities....
However, the EST said that smoother drivers also save on wear and tear, and less regular services for their vehicles.

There's also a link to a quiz on how green is your driving... as a non-driver, I'm not qualified to comment on that.
The Observer | UK News | Now drivers have to pass green test:
Filed in: driving, car, environment, CO2, licence