144
Environment
ECO-DRIVING
Eco-driving is a range of everyday practices that allow the motorist to optimise their fuel consumption and CO2
emissions.
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 shift indicator invites you to
change up; it is displayed in the instrument panel, follow its
instructions.
With an automatic or electronic gearbox, 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 vehicles, use engine
braking rather than the brake pedal, and press the
accelerator 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 connecting your multimedia
devices (fi lm, music, video game...), you will contribute
towards limiting the consumption of electrical energy, and
so of fuel.
Disconnect your portable devices before leaving the
vehicle.
