Victorians hitting the road this festive season are being encouraged by Sustainability Victoria to make their road trip as ‘sustainable’ as possible.
Mapping out its top sustainable road trip tips, the Agency said that no matter which car was to travel, there were a few simple steps Victorians could take to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
“The beauty of a road trip is the chance to focus on the journey, rather than the destination,” Sustainability Victoria said.
“There’s something special about jumping in your car and leaving it all behind, and it’s no wonder so many songs have been written about road trips,” it said.
“But driving is a carbon-intensive form of travel, and a sustainable road trip is so much more than just bringing your reusable water bottle or coffee cup along with you.”
Sustainability Victoria encouraged people to pump their tyres up and check their car’s oil level before heading off.
It said flat tyres could increase drag on the road, “adding to the fuel you burn, and your car will have to work harder to push old, thicker oil through the engine, so these simple steps will make a difference”.
“Drivers use more fuel when they brake suddenly and accelerate quickly, so be conscious of driving as smoothly as possible to save fuel and minimise emissions,” the Agency said.
“Always maintain a good distance from the car in front to prevent abrupt braking and then needing to accelerate back up to full speed,” it said.
“Driving at high speeds can also increase fuel consumption and emissions.
“For example, according to a study by Monash University, at 120km/h your car uses 50 per cent more fuel than when travelling at 88km/h, so sticking to the speed limit will save fuel while keeping you from getting a ticket.”
Sustainability Victoria encouraged people to travel light to avoid weighing down their car, which would burn more fuel.
It also asked people to consider if they actually needed to travel by car, urging them to check if their journey could be completed by train, bus or cycling.
