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Reducing Your Car’s Pollution

3 min read
Lowering the unhealthy emissions your car produces will go a long way towards saving the environment. The following are a list of simple steps and ways to help fight air pollution while driving.

Pollution from vehicles is of major concern to the environment. Even as the car industry is slowly turning to greener forms of energy, most modern cars still use internal combustion engines. These run primarily on fossil fuels, such as petrol and diesel, which emit harmful by-products to the air. To help improve the environment and reduce the amount of pollution, there are simple measures all drivers can employ to help Mother Earth.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE
Your car is like any other equipment or appliance — it requires proper and regular maintenance to not only perform optimally, but also to increase its lifespan. Accumulated dirt and dust, like clogged air filters and impurities in the engine, often lead to less-than-ideal performance and higher vehicle emissions. Make sure your tyres are inflated to the recommended level; otherwise, they will increase the wear and tear on the tyres and add to fuel consumption. Don’t skip the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance intervals as these tune-ups go a long way towards ensuring upkeep of your car and contributing to a better environment.

No clue about maintaining your car? Then sign up for AA Singapore’s Basic Car Maintenance Clinic. You’ll get to learn the basic functions and operations of your car through theory and demonstrations. Don’t worry — notes will be provided! The next class takes place on 9 October 2021. For more details, visit our website today.

MAKE PLANS
Plan your to-do list ahead so you can combine your errands and trips to avoid unnecessary outings. If you need to get groceries or do some shopping, why not dedicate a single day for them instead of going out multiple times? And if you are going for a bite somewhere nearby, do consider talking a stroll there and back. This makes your schedule more efficient, and you could get some exercise out of it!

DRIVE SMART
Don’t overdrive your car; use it respectfully. Aggressive habits, such as sudden accelerating and hard braking, not only take a toll on your car and tyres, but also lead to higher fuel consumption and air pollution. Avoid stop-start traffic where possible — there are useful apps that can help steer you away from congested roads and areas. Also, plan your journey so you don’t spend unnecessary time trying to find your way around. If you need to wait for more than a minute or two, don’t leave your car idle as it will waste fuel unnecessarily. If it’s safe to do so, turn off the engine and wind down the windows if you need to be in the car.

REDUCE WEIGHT
The heavier the car, the more fuel it burns to deal with the weight. Lighten the load in your car by removing unnecessary junk from your car boot. Some drivers treat their cars like their second home, dumping all kinds of stuff — from sports gear to food and drinks to books and even spare furniture — in the boot. Only have items that don’t bog down your car, keep them light, and stick to the essentials, which mean spare masks and sanitisers these days! If you are on the market for a new car, avoid hefty, big-engine cars that consume way more fuel than necessary; better yet, check out the more environmentally friendly electric vehicles, which are becoming increasingly available here.

To reinforce these be-kind-to-Mother Nature driving tips, why not sign up for AA Singapore’s ECO-Driving Workshop? You’ll better understand ways to save on fuel and thus stretch your dollar. Three sessions have been scheduled for October 2021. For more details, visit our website today.