Top 10 FOXY motoring tips for women drivers
These motoring tips can help women drivers stay safer, reduce CO2 emissions and save money.
How you drive can conserve fuel
The less fuel our cars use the less CO2 they emit and the less money women drivers can spend on fuel. Luckily it is easy to reduce CO2 emissions by adopting simple driving techniques and you'll quickly see your reward in terms of lower fuel bills!
1) Plan routes in advance.
Try to avoid known traffic hotspots at times of the day when women drivers may end up sitting in a queue. Check that your satnav is taking you the shortest way - the quickest route is often a lot longer.
2) Watch your speed.
Travelling at between 50 and 60mph means your emissions will be lowest, whilst motoring over 70mph can increase them by as much as 25%. Surprisingly perhaps, driving at less than 15mph creates the most pollution.
3) Make efficient use of your car's engine.
Try to combine several short local journeys into one. Always drive off as soon as you switch the engine on, switch it off in traffic queues and as soon as you reach your destination.
4) Drive smoothly.
Over-revving, energetic braking and harsh acceleration will all drink up fuel. Instead, drivers should use the correct gears to avoid straining the engine.
5) Remove any extra weight.
Women drivers removing unnecessary clutter can improve their car's fuel consumption by up to 2%. Take off an unused roof rack, for example, and you could save a further 2%.
6) Turn off air conditioning.
By turning the air conditioning system off, women drivers can reduce fuel efficiency by a massive 8%.
A happy car is maintained and serviced on a regular basis
7) Check the condition of your tyres.
Get into the habit of looking at your tyres every time you approach the car. Just a glance is likely to identify a flat tyre and, if you don't drive on the tyre, it is more likely to be repairable. Also, you are more likely to spot kerb damage, bulges or under-inflation before they become a danger. Women drivers who detect damage to their tyres should drive the car slowly to a repairer straight away.
Once a month, at least, women drivers should check that their tyres are correctly inflated because this check can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 3%. Over or under inflated, they could fail when you need them most, can wear out quickly and will then need replacing sooner than they would otherwise. Not only are tyres VERY expensive, far too many are ending up in landfill which is a bad thing for the environment.
Tyre fitting tip: The majority of modern cars are driven by the front wheels and, as most of the braking effort is supplied by the front tyres, they wear out much more quickly than the rear tyres. In fact, rear tyres wear so slowly that it is common for them to be scrapped because of sidewall deterioration rather than tread wear, which is an avoidable waste. When your front tyres need replacing, ask the fitter to move the rear wheels to the front and put the new tyres on the rear. That way, you will always use all the tread you buy.
8) Check and top up your oil level regularly.
Too much oil is bad and too little means serious damage ahead; parts will start to fail, your car will let you down more often and bills will start to escalate...
Women drivers who top up their own oil should always check the car's handbook/manual and use the right grade for your car; many need specialist oils for good reason. Make sure the car is parked on level ground and with the handbrake firmly applied. Wait for five minutes after the engine has been run to allow the oil to drop back into the sump; otherwise, there would be a danger of overfilling. Top up a little at a time and allow a few minutes before checking the level on the dipstick for the same reason. When replacing the dipstick, give it a firm push to make sure it is correctly located in the tube. Keep receipts as evidence of doing the job properly.
Your oil and the oil filter (which traps any damaging debris) should be changed regularly; see your car's handbook, typically once a year as a minimum but twice a year is recommended.
Oil disposal tip: Always dispose of engine oil correctly. Your local amenity tip will offer the facility free of charge to domestic users. The waste oil is processed and used as fuel for power stations and blast furnaces among other things. On no account should this oil be poured into the drainage system or any hole in the ground.
9) Get your maintenance checked by the professionals on occasion.
To be sure that your car is safe, kind to the planet, reliable and cheaper to run why not ask a garage professional to check that you have done the job well enough and not missed any safety issues. Many businesses offer free safety checks but foxy lady drivers will want to be sure that a 'free' offer does not then become a hefty bill!
Maintenance tip: FOXY Lady Drivers Club includes 'no obligation' free quarterly car fitness checks for women drivers, carried out by FOXY approved female friendly garages and dealerships across the UK (see below).
10) Do your homework about the best garages and car dealerships in your area.
Always look for evidence of quality not just a friendly receptionist or a well-intentioned referral from someone who hasn't checked that garage's quality credentials. For more information about how to buy the best garage services at MOT, car servicing and car repair times, read the Garage Services Guide at FOXY Choice where you can then check for the best and female friendly local garages and dealerships to suit your car, budget and the occasion. Look out for those that have signed the female friendly FOXY Promise© which is a reassuring commitment to "never knowingly overcharge, patronise or sell our customers services they do not need or want."
FOXY Classic online membership for women drivers costs £20 per annum, plus a one-off £3 joining fee. This subscription is instantly repaid by a free legal motor assistance package (worth £25) and also includes free quarterly car fitness checks (worth £60), MOT and car servicing offers at female friendly garages and a motoring support helpdesk for practical advice and information about women's car insurance, new cars and everyday motoring bills.
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