GAS-GUZZLING motorists don’t care that their driving is harming the planet, a study shows.
Five million Brit drivers will never change their driving habits, according to new research, even though high speed, heavy braking and using air con are all bad for the environment.
In a UK map of the least eco-considerate driving regions Wales came out in the top five.
More than half (51%) of 25-34 year olds don’t even know that a smoother driving style can reduce vehicle emissions. Less than two in ten (14%) of the country’s 33 million motorists have changed their behaviour on the road to be more eco-friendly, according to a survey by Lightfoot which ranked percentages who have changed to greener motoring habits.
| The research also revealed that more than two thirds (69%) were unable to identify driving behaviours that increase emissions.
Nearly seven in ten (67%) of all respondents were not aware that using a stop-start system uses less fuel, while 55% didn’t know that heavy braking and using air conditioning (55%) uses more. Technology firm Lightfoot – maker of the world’s first technology to reward better drivers – launched its Breathe Exeter initiative this week in Devon’s capital, with the goal of removing the equivalent of 1,000 cars’ worth of emissions from Exeter’s air by the end of the year, simply by changing the way motorists drive their vehicles. Lightfoot is investing over half a million pounds in Breathe Exeter with a view to rolling the initiative out nationwide later this year. |
Least eco-considerate driving regions
1. North East (22%) 2. Scotland (25.4%) 3. East Midlands (25%) 4. Yorkshire (26%) 5. Wales (27%) 6. North West (28%) 7. South East (30%) 8. South West (33%) 9. London (33.2%) 10. East Anglia (34%) 11. West Midlands (34.5%) |
Mark Roberts, CEO and Founder of Lightfoot said, “A good driver can be 20% more efficient than a bad driver. In the short term, not driving is not an option for everyone. We need to extend our green thinking to our driving style and make a real impact in reducing our emissions through better driving.
“When we all commit to a common goal, we become greater than the sum of our parts. We want to show we can significantly cut emissions by making Exeter the first city-scale case study that proves the power of collective action. Jointly, we can create a blueprint for other cities to follow, proving that a social movement for change can have a bigger, more immediate impact than slow-moving national policy. Together, we can dramatically cut CO2 and NOx, through one simple action – smoother driving.”
Lightfoot has been compared to a ‘Fitbit for cars’. The in-vehicle device helps drivers find their engine ‘sweet spot’ thanks to configurable, real-time feedback. The connected car technology is not only rewarding users but reducing emissions and accidents for businesses and private motorists. As verified by the University of Bath, Lightfoot reduces fuel use by 20% and CO2, NOx, and other harmful emissions at the same rate, while insurers and brokers report it reducing accident rates by up to 80%.
