Change your Driving Style and Support Make Cars Green
Date: 26 April 2010
Tyre maker Bridgestone SA has reminded South African drivers that they can reduce their motoring costs and the environmental impact of motoring substantially by make just a few small changes in their driving style.
Bridgestone SA Public Relations Manager, Mandy Lovell, said that the environmental impact of vehicles happens in three main phases. “The first phase is the design and manufacture of the car, the second phase is the vehicle’s normal service life and the final phase is where the vehicle is scrapped or recycled,” she explained.
“The FIA’s Bridgestone-sponsored international Make Cars Green project aims to address all three of these phases by reminding motorists of ten simple points to reduce the environmental impact and cost of motoring,” she added. “The first tip, Buy Green, is highly significant – motor manufacturers build the cars consumers want, and it’s up to each of us to create a demand for more environmentally conscious vehicles,” she explained.
Other tips in the Make Cars Green campaign include advice on driving style, such as accelerating gently and keeping a more constant speed, as well as maintaining correct tyre pressures. Journey planning, to reduce excess emissions caused by losing one’s way, is another issue addressed by the campaign.
Motorists are also advised to offset their CO2 emissions. This can be done in many ways, from planting trees to installing roof insulation to reduce energy requirements, or even opting for solar water heating instead of an electric geyser.
“The full list of tips, as well as other useful information, can be found on www.makecarsgreen.com,“ Lovell said. “Each one of us can play a role in reducing the impact of motoring on our environment,” she concluded.
