Young drivers are the least environmentally unfriendly motorists and are most likely to show cynicism towards alternative fuel vehicles such as electric and hybrids according to new research from energyrethinking.org.
A new study of 3,000 motorists 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+). While respondents across all age groups were equally concerned about the environment and their impact on it, starters showed the least environmentally friendly driving habits.
And despite the fact that all age groups showed a desire to save money by using less fuel, citing this as the number one motivation for using the car less, young drivers were the most likely to use their cars for short journeys under a mile, a very un-fuel efficient way of using the car.
The website responsible for the study, established as a joint initiative with Shell and supported by the Energy Saving Trust, Institute of Directors, Michelin and Tomorrow’s Company, suggests that although young drivers might have a positive attitude towards fuel saving, they lack the knowledge to successfully conserve their fuel. For example, only 50 per cent of Starters were aware of how fuel efficient their cars are, in comparison with more than 70 per cent of Established drivers.
A 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.
“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.”
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 per cent.
