17 FAMILIARISATION
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ECO-DRIVING
Eco-driving is a range of everyday practices that allow the motorist to optimise their fuel consumption and CO2 emis-
sions.
Optimise the use of your
gearbox
With a manual gearbox, move off
gently, change up without waiting
and drive by changing up quite soon.
If your vehicle has the system, the
gear effi ciency indicator invites you to
change up; it is displayed in the instru-
ment panel, follow its instructions.
With an automatic or electronic gear-
box, stay in Drive "D"
or Auto "A"
,
according to the type of gearbox,
without pressing the accelerator pedal
heavily or suddenly.
Drive smoothly
Maintain a safe distance between ve-
hicles, use engine braking rather than
the brake pedal, and press the accel-
erator progressively. These practices
contribute towards a reduction in fuel
consumption and CO
2 emissions and
also helps reduce the background
traffi c noise.
If your vehicle has cruise control,
make use of the system at speeds
above 25 mph (40 km/h) when the
traffi c is fl owing well.
Control the use of your
electrical equipment
Before moving off, if the passenger
compartment is too warm, ventilate it
by opening the windows and air vents
before using the air conditioning.
Above 30 mph (50 km/h), close the
windows and leave the air vents
open.
Remember to make use of equipment
that can help keep the temperature
in the passenger compartment down
(sunroof and window blinds...).
Switch off the air conditioning, unless it
has automatic digital regulation, as soon
as the desired temperature is attained.
Switch off the demisting and defrosting
controls, if not automatic.
Switch off the heated seat as soon as
possible.
Switch off the headlamps and front
foglamps when the level of light does
not require their use. Avoid running the engine before moving
off, particularly in winter; your vehicle will
warm up much faster while driving.
As a passenger, if you avoid con-
necting your multimedia devices
(fi lm, music, video game...), you will
contribute towards limiting the con-
sumption of electrical energy, and so
of fuel.
Disconnect your portable devices be-
fore leaving the vehicle.
