A survey looking at Scots' driving habits suggests that significant cost savings can be made by driving your car more sensitively. The survey was conducted prior to the launch today of a new £1.5m advertising campaign by the Energy Saving Trust, with Scottish Government funding, to encourage "Eco-Driving."
Eco-driving may sound like an oxymoron, but the campaign organisers believe that when the cost savings are also taken into account, Scots motorists are more likely to switch to a way of driving that is slightly less damaging to the environment. It's estimated Scots would save £300m a year and 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. That is the
equivalent of one motorist driving from Edinburgh to Glasgow 50 million
times, or to taking 275,000 cars off the road for a year.
Tips on the EST website include driving more slowly, anticipating traffic signals, driving at an even pace, and shifting to a higher gear as soon as possible.
The poll of 1002 Scots found that more than half (55 per cent) say the way they drive harms the environment. But 86 per cent say they would alter their driving behaviour if it meant saving money. The poll findings reveal one-third (34 per cent) think the most important reason to change their driving habits is to help the environment.
Conversely, only 13 per cent of Scots do not care what effect their driving has on the world.
The campaign, put together with the Inverleith-based Union advertising agency, will target commuters as they are driving to and
from work through a combination of filling station, billboard,
breakfast and drivetime radio advertising.
People can also call
freephone 0800 512 012 for free, local advice on eco-driving.
"It's all too easy for people to forget about eco-driving in the heat of the moment when the lights change or they are running late for an appointment," says Mike Thornton, director of the Edinburgh-based Energy Saving Trust in Scotland.
"The idea behind this campaign is to make sure that eco-driving tips are given to commuters when they can actively do something about it: when they are behind the wheel of the car. We are aiming for eco-driving to become a normal driving habit and not something people do just when they remember. If every motorist in Scotland were to pick up one eco-driving tip a week we're on our way to making a big difference, both to the environment and people's pockets."