Warwickshire News Mine

Road traffic in the UK grew by 73 per cent between 1980 and 2002 (making the UK the most traffic-congested country in Europe), and with the majority of this growth car-based, and continuing to increase at up to two per cent a year, Warwickshire County Council is urging drivers to think twice before making journeys.

In rural Warwickshire journey distance and car dependence levels are higher than urban centres and walk times to bus stops and bus availability are both lower than the national average. Trip distances are 36 per cent longer and car ownership is higher with 90 per cent of households in rural areas now owning at least one car compared with 77 per cent in small urban areas.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Environmental Services, said: ``Transport in rural areas is a careful balancing act with it providing economic and social benefits in terms of extended opportunities and higher levels of accessibility, but often at an environmental cost.”

Warwickshire County Council Sustainable Travel Officer Karen Martin explained further: “Health issues are also a factor, drivers are exposed to higher level of pollutants than walkers or cyclists due to the ventilation in cars, as this draws in the air at ground level, which is where there is more pollution.”

If environmental and health issues were not enough then consider the price of petrol. Being fuel-efficient can provide financial benefits too.

So it makes sense to cut car use and save on fuel bills or maximise mileage from a tank of petrol. Here are some top tips to help achieve fuel efficiency:

Firstly ask ‘do you need to make the journey by car?’ It is the shortest journeys that are the most damaging to the environment and health.
· Your first kilometre produces 60 per cent more fumes than when the engine is warmed up.
· Catalytic converters are only effective for journeys over 5 miles
· 25 per cent of our car journeys are under 2 miles, which is a 30 minute walk at most.

Cllr Heatley added: ``Clearly looking at this information anyone going around the corner to buy a paper should try walking or cycling as both are alternatives that are cheap and healthy.’’

Driving to work with someone else will also save you money and some employers pay up to 5p per passenger per mile to encourage car sharing.

Choosing a more fuel efficient car could save a motorist up to £900 a year, compare data on miles per gallon between manufacturers at http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk. Money can also be saved on tax and insurance. There a number of electric and hybrid cars on the market with very low running costs. Or simply ensuring tyre pressure is correct, the car is regularly serviced, and you are not carrying unnecessary weight can all make dramatic fuel savings.

Rapid acceleration and heavy breaking can have an impact, for example driving at 85mph instead of 70 mph increases petrol consumption by 20-25 per cent.

Switching to diesel could mean doing 20 per cent more miles per gallon, making it more fuel efficient and producing less C02.

Converting to LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) could save more than £500 per year on fuel costs. More and more vehicles with LPG option are now available direct from the manufacturers.

For sustainable travel advice visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/travelwise

Link to WCC