BRITS have been urged to place a bizarre item in their cars ahead of the October Budget to save big at the petrol pumps.
The unusual practice can make you a better driver as well as cutting your costs by a few quid.
Brits have been urged to use an odd trick to save fuel ahead of the October Budget[/caption]Driving experts have suggested the out-of-the-box trick to help you keep yourself in check when it comes to fuel economy.
It can be tempting behind the wheel to drive a little more aggressively than perhaps you should.
Every petrolhead loves an overtake as, within the speed limit, of course we see ourselves as Michael Schumacher-types powering around Silverstone or Monter Carlo.
But that can add unwanted zeroes to your bills by ruining fuel economy.
And the team over at Vanarama has now come up with a whimsical way to cut down your forecourt costs.
They recommend placing a bowl about half full with water on your passenger seat.
By doing this, you are forced to accelerate and brake smoothly and avoid harsh or sudden movements.
After all, you’ll have to mop up any that spills.
Not only does this make you a better driver, but it also conveniently encourages driving behaviours that boost fuel economy.
By avoiding sharp braking or jerky steering, you save more fuel, knocking pennies off your bill each time you fill up.
Based on an average 50-litre fuel tank and current petrol prices, an improvement of just 1mpg could save you about £2.43 per tank.
The experts said: “Every time you apply the brakes, the energy that you’ve paid for in fuel is lost in heat generated by the brake pads and discs.
“Don’t rev the engine unnecessarily when accelerating, just move gently through the gears, keeping the engine speed to a reasonable level, but without labouring it by being in too high a gear.”
Just be careful if you do try the trick not to put the bowl of water near any electrical components or overfill it.
The worst you want to happen is a soggy floor mat in the footwell without causing any damage.
And drivers have been urged to start saving now ahead of the October Budget, which is set to see the reversal of a 2022 cut in fuel duty.
It will be the first increase in the tax for over a decade after it remained frozen from 2011, thanks in part to The Sun’s Keep It Down campaign.