LAST week, motorists found themselves paying more for both petrol and diesel, again.
This following a few months of decreases in prices but not enough to bring it back below the R20/L mark.
So, the 51c increase in both grades of petrol and steep R1,44 increase per litre of diesel is leaving a bad taste in most drivers’ mouths.
Even with government intervention, the price of fuel is still very high as we head towards the festive season.
Internationally, many countries face their own steep increases in fuel prices, albeit not as extreme as South Africa.
“Consequently, motorists in the UK are being warned that technology in vehicles that can save fuel needs to be used correctly for this to be a reality. Incorrect use could actually cause motorists to use more fuel,” said Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive.
“The technology being referred to is cruise control. While it can boost fuel economy considerably, this is only when driving on a constant, flat surface. On inclines, cruise control is slower than a driver to react to gradient changes. When a driver reaches the top of a hill, they decrease their pressure on the accelerator much faster than what cruise control can sense a change in the gradient,” added Herbert.
The same applies in driving with traffic.
Herbert said cruise control was never recommended in heavy traffic because of the potential for something to go wrong.
“If, however, a driver uses cruise control in moderate traffic and is consequently adjusting or stopping and restarting regularly, they will not get the most fuel saving benefits from cruise control, safety concerns aside,” he said.
“A Natural Resources CanadaStudy found that cruise control could potentially reduce fuel consumption by 20% – if used correctly. If you are consistently adapting your cruise control between 110km/h and 120km/h, for example, as opposed to keeping it at a consistent 120km/h, you are unlikely to see this saving. If you find you regularly need to adjust your speed, driver anticipation and correct following distances are more likely to get a bigger saving than using your cruise control,” Herbert said.
