Some tips for economical driving in Belgrade

Otvoreni krovni prozor troši više goriva. Izvor; Megan Ruth, Pixels

Car rental is allowed for all adults who meet the requirements of the car rental agency. Some drivers often overestimate their driving skills and have to visit the gas station more often and more quickly. You should know that when a vehicle is rented, fuel costs fall on the driver. The amount of fuel you rented the vehicle with is the amount you need to return, otherwise you have to pay the difference. Which can be large.

Some economical driving skills will help you extend the time between fillings up at the gas station and thus save on fuel. Regardless of whether you are an experienced car driver or a beginner, there is always room to improve your driving skills regarding fuel economy, especially in a city like Belgrade.

Here are some tips on how to obtain that:

Turn off the engine while you wait

We already know the length of the wait at some traffic lights. All drivers have experienced those situations every day in Belgrade and other larger cities. Well, we can turn off the engine. The car does not have to be left on for several minutes because that is simply unacceptable. It is recommended to turn off the engine if we know we will be standing for more than a minute or two. Although you have rented a vehicle, do not forget that you pay for the used fuel.

Gradual acceleration and deceleration

The higher the car speed, the larger is fuel consumption. Drivers like to press harder on the gas pedal, to suddenly accelerate and brake without obvious reasons. However, do you know that such sudden acceleration increases fuel consumption by up to 20%? The economic optimal speed is in a range of 70-90 km/h, a higher speed results in increased fuel consumption.

Monitor the traffic situation

Good monitoring of the traffic situation, in a large city like Belgrade, will prevent sudden braking and stress for you and the car. It is necessary to assume the movement and behavior of other traffic participants. Experience can help us understand traffic situations and to adapt more easily.

Izvor; Pixabay, Pixels

Avoid crowded streets

Who likes to spend endless time in traffic on the way to or from work? In addition to wasted time and nerves, remember how many times you stopped and started the vehicle and increased fuel consumption. If "stop and go" is in your blood, try to change it a little. Check alternative routes or try to avoid rush hour traffic.

Check the tire pressure

The tires on our vehicles require some maintenance. They should be sufficiently and precisely inflated because their condition affects, first of all, our safety, and then their lifespan and fuel efficiency. The cars are more fuel efficient if the tires are properly inflated. If the pressure is lower than the optimum, the fuel consumption increases. It is recommended to check the tires at least twice a month.

Remove unnecessary weight from the vehicle

More weight, more fuel consumption. People tend to leave things in their cars. Maybe for some things, it is justified, but for some unimportant not only that is unnecessary but is also harmful. For example, we certainly don't need beach chairs in the car during the winter. So, don't turn your car into warehouse.

Remove the roof racks and boxes attached to the top of the car

The effect of roof racks is similar to that of windows left open, but a little worse. The supports on the roof of the car increase the resistance to the movement of the vehicle in such a way that - the higher the speed of the car, the more fuel it needs to move. So keep in mind that the roof racks can be easily attached or detached and do not need to be permanently installed on the vehicle.

Adjust the gear to the current speed

A timely change of gear makes the difference between good and bad drivers. Fortunately, new vehicles have an indication of the optimal gear ratio, which drivers should always use if they want to save fuel.

Closed windows and sunroof

During the hot days, it's really fun to drive with the open windows. But it comes at a price. The wind noise that we hear when the windows are open is actually an additional load for the vehicle because it creates resistance to movement and therefore increases fuel consumption. Sometimes the air conditioner is turned on while the windows are opened, which from the point of view of fuel consumption, let us say, is quite arrogant.