Whether you own a car in South Africa or you’re just visiting, you can choose to adopt driving habits that help the environment.
These eco-friendly driving habits don’t require a massive change in how you drive. They just take a little commitment to make a positive difference.
Most people don’t make that commitment because it doesn’t seem like one person can make a difference. But learning, applying, and teaching these small habits is exactly how we can help build a cleaner environment.
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Why does it matter?
South Africa is a popular global destination known for its natural beauty, clean air, and rich history. But exploring all that beauty often means long drives between towns, attractions, and regions.
While road trips can be fun, they also create more emissions from combustion engines. Driving smarter, and more efficiently can cut small inefficiencies that add up to real costs, especially when you consider that 9 – 10 million people visit and travel across South Africa every year.
Use these tips whether you’re just running an errand or heading out on a cross-country trip.
Driving smoothly and maintain a steady speed
You burn fuel every time you accelerate. When you floor the accelerator and brake sharply, you waste fuel, increase emissions, and wear out your brakes faster.
The best approach is simple: ease onto the accelerator and build speed gradually.
Look ahead, anticipate traffic, and instead of racing to a red light, lift your foot and let the car coast to a stop.
This reduces the need for hard braking, saves fuel, and lowers emissions. It’s also a calmer and safer way to drive.
Use cruise control
When traffic is light, cruise control helps you keep a steady speed, and steady speed means less wasted fuel.
Even small speed swings, like drifting between 75 and 85 km/h, can raise fuel use by up to 20%.
On open roads, that consistency pays off. Your car works less, you burn less fuel, and your trip feels smoother overall.
Avoid Idling
Idling burns fuel and creates emissions even when you’re not moving. If you’re waiting for more than a minute, it’s better to turn off the engine, unless you’re at a traffic light.
Modern engines don’t need time to warm up before driving, and most new cars come with start–stop systems. These automatically shut the engine off when you brake, coming to a standstill and restarts it when you press the pedal.
Less idling means less pollution, less wasted fuel, and a little more money left in your pocket.
Lighten the load in your car
Extra weight makes your car work harder and burn more fuel. Every 100 pounds can cut your fuel economy by around 2%.
So, don’t overpack. Leave behind anything you don’t need for your trip, that extra box, cooler, or spare bag of clothes. Remove roof racks or bike carriers when you’re not using them.
A lighter car uses less fuel and produces fewer emissions, especially on long drives.
Small changes like this make a real difference over time.
Keep up with your vehicle maintenance
Have you ever driven behind a car spewing out thick smoke? That usually means it hasn’t been well maintained or the engine isn’t working efficiently.
When your oil is dirty or filters are clogged, the engine struggles to run efficiently. It might not get the right air-fuel mix, which leads to more fuel use and more emissions.
To keep your engine running clean, follow the manufacturer’s service schedule. That includes regular oil changes, filter replacements, and spark plug checks.
A well-maintained car runs smoother, lasts longer, and pollutes less, all wins for you and the environment.
Use the AC wisely
Air conditioning uses extra fuel, so if it’s not too hot, roll down your windows instead. Turn off seat heaters when you don’t need them.
However, at highway speeds, open windows create drag that can increase fuel use.
In those cases, it’s actually more efficient to use your A/C.
The trick is to match your cooling method to your driving conditions, windows for short city drives, A/C for longer highway trips. Either way, a little awareness goes a long way toward saving fuel.
Check and correct your tyre pressure often
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which makes your engine work harder and burn more fuel.
They also wear out faster, which means you’ll replace them sooner, not great for your wallet or the planet.
Check your tyre pressure regularly and inflate them to the recommended level. If you’re going on a long trip, slightly over-inflating by about 2 psi can improve fuel economy and handling.
Consider hybrid/electric cars
Electric vehicles don’t produce tailpipe emissions, which makes them one of the cleanest driving options available. They’re quieter, smoother, and use it’s power far more efficiently, about 95% of the power goes directly into moving the car.
By contrast, combustion engines lose much of their energy as heat, which is why they need coolants and radiators.
Electric cars also use regenerative braking, which captures energy when you slow down and stores it in the battery for later use further reducing energy waste.
Hybrid cars are another good step. They combine electric and fuel engines, so while they’re not as clean as full EVs, they still reduce emissions compared to traditional cars.
In South Africa, where much of the power grid still depends on coal, the emission savings may be smaller. But you can get ahead of this by charging your EV with solar power at home, ensuring that your car always uses clean energy.
Using carsharing
If you’re renting a car, choosing to rent directly from owners with a carsharing platform like Tarlen is one of the easiest ways to lower your environmental impact. You also support local car owners and contribute to the community’s economy.
And if you already own a car, don’t let it sit idle. Listing it on Tarlen puts it to good use, reduces pollution, and helps cut down on traffic congestion.
Tarlen connects local car owners with travelers and commuters who need short-term access to vehicles, turning underused cars into shared, sustainable resources.
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