Post-Carbon Living - Driving Style


		living: 30 years from now

Our pick of the best reads:

Jeff Rubin "Why your world is about to get a whole lot smaller"

Greg Craven "What's the worst that could happen?"

Lester Brown "Plan B 3.0"

Shaun Chamberlin "Transition Timeline"

Andrew Simms & David Boyle "The New Economics"

Anthony Giddens "The Politics of Climate Change"

Tamzin Pinkerton & Rob Hopkins "Local Food"

Clive Hamilton "Growth Fetish"

Richard Heinberg "Peak Everything"

Richard Heinberg "Oil Depletion Protocol"

"The Green Building Bible" vol 1

Mark Lynas "Six Degrees"

Donella Meadows, Jorgen Randers Dennis Meadow "Limits to Growth"

Aubrey Meyer "Contract & Converge"

Alexis Rowell "Communities, Councils & A Low-Carbon Future"

Proud Co-Founder of Transition Town High Wycombe

Proud Member of the Low Carbon Chilterns Cooperative

Proud owner & retrofitter of Superhome 59

This website proud host of the High Wycombe Local Food Guide

Driving Style

Most people think they drive better than the average motorist. Think about that. Of course that is a statistical absurdity and cannot possibly be true. Half of us will drive better than the average, the rest will drive worse. So there is obviously a lot of ignorance or denial out there. The age of the motor car will come to an end when the oil does. Until then most northern industrialised economies (ie, the rich people of the world) are completely hooked on the provision of private motoring. The rest of the world will just look on in disbelief.

We drive as if fossil fuels are infinite and cheap. Indeed petrol prices have declined in the UK in comparison to incomes. It has got cheaper to run a car. The way we use cars leaves a lot to be desired. Everyone can think of examples and few of us drive like saints. So, hands up whose driving could be improved. Let's start saving petrol, LPG and Diesel.....

First things first

Lets get the obvious stuff our of the way first. There is no such thing as an environmentally friendly car. The car is a temporary luxury unavailable to most. Let's treat it as such and use it with respect. Avoid using your car for short journeys. Use public transport where you can. Alternatively walk or cycle. Better still stay at home and let the internet and delivery services take the strain. Try sharing the car and give lifts to others. Choose uncongested routes and combine trips.

Finally, in your choice of car please remember that small is good. An Automatic Gearbox must be avoided as they increase your fuel consumption by 5%. Choose Diesel over Petrol and then LPG over Diesel. Choose the smallest engine and check out the fuel consumption before buying.

Efficient Driving Style

Drive like a chauffeur - drive smoothly and efficiently. Imagine a glass of wine on the dashboard - you don't want to spill it. No harsh acceleration or sudden braking. Accelerate slowly and anticipate traffic ahead as far as you can see. If you need to slow down then do so early and take your foot off the accelerator. Coast to a halt where you can and use your gears to slow yourself down gently. There is no point accelerating at the car in front of you if it is stationary or slowing down - then braking hard. Imagine the fuel you have just used in accelerating now has to be wasted by braking. You might as well take that fuel and pour it over your brake-pads then set light to it. It is all wasted.... And for what?

Likewise, read the instructions for your car. Modern cars do not need to be either warmed up or revved - even on the coldest of mornings. As soon as the engine turns over pop it into gear and drive off. There is no need to over-rev the engine. Petrol or LPG-powered cars run at their most efficient at less than 2500RPM. Change up a gear as soon as you can. Keep your revs as low as is practical. When your car is not moving switch it off. Do not get out of the driver's position with the engine on - ever! There is never any need to leave a modern car running. It is dangerous and wasteful of fuel. It is also far easier to steal! The engine should be on only if you are at the wheel, going somewhere (even if it is very slowly!) or waiting at traffic lights.

Slow down. Your most efficient speed will be about 50mph. Stick to the speed limit where practical. Lighten your car. What are you carrying in the boot that you do not need? What have you got bolted to your car that will increase drag? A roof rack or bike carrier? Always remove the roof rack or bike carrier when it is not being used.

Keep the car serviced and regular occasions and watch your fuel consumption. Keep the tyres inflated to the recommended pressure. Minimise the use of electrical devices in the car. Only use the Sat Nav if you driving in an unfamiliar area with a genuine chance you might get lost! Likewise, fog-lights are to be used when there is FOG. Using them at any other time is actually illegal in the UK. Switch them off and use your main lights responsibly. Finally, use your air-conditioning only in summer when it is intolerably hot. Even then, only use it for as long as you need to cool the passenger cabin down.

Post-Carbon Rules of the Road

Car Drivers must give way to pedestrians, cyclists, horses, buses and multiple occupancy vehicles. One day YOU will be travelling that way so treat them as you would wish to be treated on the road. Their choice is low carbon and much better than yours!
Car Drivers must NOT give way to urban 4x4's or SUV's. Make them wait but be polite. Pretend you can't see them. They have made a bad choice and should suffer for it - but be nice. Obviously if they are a builder, farmer or country vet then act appropriately as their choice is more limited. However it is easy to spot the Mum on the school run or popping to the shops!
Likewise do not give way to larger 'People Carriers' if they are occupied by driver only.
As a Car Driver you are the equivalent of other Cars and Trade Vehicles such as lorries or vans. Show them the usual courtesy whilst on the road.
Relax and stick to the speed limit. Think about your CO2 emissions and the 4 billion people on this planet who are doing quite-nicely-thankyou without a car.

Sport, Recreation & Safety

One day the closest any of us ever get to driving an automobile will be at a special leisure facility. It is unlikely to be affordable within your Carbon Ration but let's say, for argument's sake, that you have saved up for two years to drive around a racing rack a couple of time of go off-road in a 4x4. Using fossil fuels may well come to be a very rare and expensive recreational pursuit.

Until such a time as that then there is no need for anybody to use fossil fuels for any kind of recreational sporting activity. There is equally no need for anyone to treat driving on a public road like a joy-ride. Driving safely is very much the same thing as driving efficiently. There is no room for speeding or burning rubber if you are concerned about your fossil fuel usage.

Sorry guys. The period where you could go off for a "track day" in your performance vehicle is rapidly coming to an end. This is the antithesis of carbon cutting. It is fossil fuel wasting. Get a life.

Urban 4x4's & SUV's

If you are reading this page then you are probably already aware of the controversy concerning the Urban 4x4's. This is not a witch-hunt against the four-wheel drive vehicle itself. It is just that context is everything. A farmer, builder or country vet are three obvious professions where an all-terrain utility vehicle is an essential tool-of the trade. These are often diesel powered and the small numbers involved means that many can be powered by home-grown bio-diesel.

However, for the vast variety of the population the 4x4 is completely inappropriate. Using one in built up areas is antisocial and unethical. They take up more road and parking space. They use more fossil fuels than necessary. They are more dangerous to both their occupants and to other road users (be they pedestrians, cyclists or other car drivers). You might as well drive a tractor or tank. Please, PLEASE, think before you buy one of these. They are socially unacceptable in urban areas and the school run.

Resource

Post-Carbon Girl

Hello everybody. If you have a car you should think carefully how you drive. We must also consider what we need switched on as we drive. This causes much discussion between Mummy and Daddy as he always turns the air-conditioning off in Summer. Mummy always wants it turned on so they have to compromise. You should drive within the speed limits too. It keeps me safe!

Conclusion

Low Carbon Man

Get out of your car!
There are many savings to be made in this transition period.

References:	See the web sites listed above