It’s already known that being light on the pedal and having smoother, consistent driving habits will eke out more kilometres on a tank of fuel, but just how much does it work out in terms of savings? Well, up to RM204 a month, says Malaysian Road Safety Research Institute (MIROS). According to the government institute, motorists who adopt fuel-efficient driving habits can save up to that much on fuel costs. Its director-general, Siti Zaharah Ishak, said that level of savings applied to those using unsubsidised RON 95 and travelling between 1,000 km and 2,000 km a month, with eco-driving resulting in savings of between RM26 to RM204 a month. She said that for motorists using subsidised RON 95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre, adopting a fuel-efficient driving apporach can reduce fuel costs by RM13 to RM105 a month, as the New Straits Times reports. “This estimation is based on an assumed fuel consumption of 6.6 litres per 100 km, which is typical for light passenger vehicles or compact petrol sedans. This includes models like the Proton Saga or other common passenger cars with similar fuel consumption rates,” she said. Fuel-efficient driving, or eco-driving, refers to energy-efficient driving habits that are prudent, calm, and consistent, as opposed to aggressive driving behaviour where rapid acceleration, late braking, frequent speed changes and leaving the engine idling while stationary are common practice. Siti Zaharah said the issue had become increasingly relevant given rising fuel costs brought about by the Middle East conflict. She said a study by the United States department of energy (DOE) showed that aggressive driving, including speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking reduces fuel efficiency by 15 to 30% at highway speeds, and that same behaviour resulted in 10 to 40% lower fuel efficiency in stop-and-go traffic. She said that reducing speed helps cut fuel consumption, especially on highways. “If considered on its own, lowering speed by eight to 16 km per hour can provide an estimated fuel savings of seven to 14%. However, this depends on the vehicle type, initial speed, road conditions, and individual driving patterns,” she explained. She added that besides saving fuel, eco-driving aids road safety. “Lower speeds also give drivers more time to react to emergencies and reduce the severity of injuries if an accident occurs. Therefore, eco-driving not only cuts fuel costs, but also fosters a safer and more responsible driving culture,” she said. Siti Zaharah said that eco-driving wasn’t just applicable for internal combustion engine vehicles but electric vehicles as well, with battery usage also impacted by driving behaviour patterms and speed consistency. She said findings by the United States environmental protection agency (EPA) showed that eco-driving remained important even though EVs do not use fossil fuel. Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro. Use the promo code 'PAULTAN' when you checkout for 10% discount!