Driving towards "greener" roads

The company has launched the Green Motoring Index to gauge how much drivers are changing their habits for “green” reasons.

AAMI SA executive manager Trent Sayers said the index showed more than half of all SA drivers took environmental factors - air pollution ratings, fuel efficiency - into account when buying a car, above the national average.

“With easy access to resources such as the Green Vehicle Guide, South Australian motorists are becoming more demanding and better informed about their car's impact on the environment,” he said.

“South Australian motorists are increasingly aware that thinking green before choosing a new car can save many tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the vehicle's life and can also save them thousands of dollars in fuel costs.”

AAMI's Green Motoring Index uses findings from a survey of 2501 Australians conducted by Sweeney Research across the country.

Drivers are also modifying driving behaviour to reduce fuel consumption, the insurance company's research also shows.

Mr Sayers said motorists can reduce their fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent. “Two in five SA drivers (44 per cent) said they consciously adjusted their driving behaviour for this reason,” he said.

The survey also found despite the claims of ethanol blends and biofuels being “greener,” only 18 per cent of SA drivers said they chose to use them.

The study found almost half of SA's drivers were unaware about the fuels' suitability for their car and 18 per cent were concerned about potential damage to their car's engine.

10 STEPS TO EFFICIENT DRIVING

1. Ensure your car is tuned and serviced regularly.

2. Reduce your speed. Driving More slowly reduces fuel consumption.

3. Travel lightly and remove Unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics.

4. Consider how much you use your conditioner - it can use up to 10 per cent extra fuel.

5. Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.

6. Avoid peak hour.

7. If you have a manual transmission, fuel economy typically improves when shifts occur at lower speeds.

8. Filling up past the first click of the fuel nozzle means that fuel can be lost through the overflow pipe when you accelerate or go around corners.

9. Drive smoothly, harsh acceleration and braking can use up to 30 per cent more fuel.

10. Whenever possible, carpool, use public transport or ride a bicycle.

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