Which drivers have the best eco habits?

That’s the question that Auto Trader looked to answer in its latest survey.

Green means go

Questioning nearly 1,300 drivers across the country about their green habits, some are certainly struggling to adjust to the. changing world.

The results show that the most popular eco-behaviours are also the ones that look after the pennies. These include taking their own shopping bags to the store, air drying clothes and having a reusable water bottle.

In the new study, Auto Trader asked drivers about regular everyday sustainable habits, with the top ten most popular eco-habits as follows:

Drivers’ Ten Most Common Eco-Habits

  Eco-Habit % of Respondents Who Always, or Regularly Do This
1 Take their own reusable bags when shopping 88%
2 They air dry clothes rather than tumble dry 75%
3 Recycling at home, using kerbside recycling for household items 73%
4 Use their own reusable water bottle 66%
5= Switching their washing machine to 30 degrees 64%
5= Wearing more clothes to stay warm rather than turn up the central heating 64%
6 They recycle items that can’t be recycled at home e.g. batteries, water filters, black food trays, crisp packets etc. 62%
7 Turn off their computers and TVs, rather than using standby 60%
8 Use of Tupperware or reusable wraps over foil or clingfilm 59%
9 Driving slower to use less fuel 42%
10 Buy second hand toys, clothes, appliances, furniture etc. for sustainability reasons 34%

 

On your bike

The least popular eco-habit is cycling instead of driving. Only 15% of drivers regularly adopt this habit.

However, using an e-bike is proven to be a great way to improve your commute. It doesn’t just reduce carbon emissions, but provides a speedy alternative to sitting in a traffic jam. There’s even the reduced stress levels, physical health benefits and  even removing the the hyper tension and rage trying to find a parking space.

When cross-referencing the eco-habits with the brand of car the respondents drive, it sent qite a curve ball int the arena. This study found that drivers of Lexus, Tesla and Porsche cars are taking remarkable strides towards reducing their carbon footprint and adopting eco-friendly habits. Vauxhall drivers are coughing and spluttering at the back of the field.

 

Top 5 Drivers With The Best Eco-habits

  • Lexus Drivers: Lexus drivers are crowned the drivers with the best eco-habits, thanks to their pioneering behaviour in reducing road congestion and emissions, with an impressive 63% frequently carpooling. Beyond sharing rides, Lexus drivers are also public transport advocates, as a majority (88%) of Lexus drivers admit opting for public transport over personal vehicles, demonstrating their dedication to reducing emissions on the road. Furthermore, Lexus owners also adopt consistent sustainable eating habits. Not only are 3 in 4 (75%) Lexus drivers embracing a vegan diet for sustainability reasons, a high number of Lexus drivers claim to prioritize purchasing food with fewer air miles – highlighting their commitment to reducing their impact on the environment.
  • Tesla Drivers: Unsurprisingly, Tesla drivers are setting a high eco-standard. Aside from all driving an electric car, the Tesla drivers surveyed all claim to use their own water bottle, and an impressive 94% switch their washing machines to an eco-friendlier 30-degree cycle, significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Furthermore, over half (56%) of Tesla drivers opt to shop in refill stores, championing the reduction of waste packaging in their daily lives and a grand majority (81%) claim to buy second hand items for sustainability reasons.
  • Porsche Drivers: Porsche owners round up the top three drivers with the best eco-habits. Not only do they stand out with 100% claiming to prefer air drying over tumble drying, thus saving energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the majority of Porsche drivers also claim to adopt a slower driving style to save fuel and lower emissions.
  • Audi Drivers: Audi drivers demonstrate a commitment to sustainability when it comes to buying products, with 61% claiming to research the sustainability of brands and products before making a purchase. Owners of the German vehicles also prove to be eco-conscious in everyday shopping, with 56% of Audi drivers claiming to shop in refill stores to reduce waste packaging.
  • Land Rover Drivers: Much like Lexus drivers, Land Rover owners are devoted recyclers, with 100% of them actively participating in recycling efforts at home, helping them land in the fifth position of drivers with the best eco-habits. Moreover, 95% of Land Rover drivers help reduce their environmental footprint by switching their washing machines to a more energy-efficient 30-degree cycle.

Drivers With The Worst Eco-habits

While some brand owners are excelling in adopting sustainable habits, others are slightly behind the curve…

  • Suzuki Drivers: Suzuki drivers, it seems, aren’t too keen on recycling, with 74% of those who drive the Japanese brand showing a reluctance to recycle regularly at home, highlighting a missed opportunity to reduce waste and conserve resources. Likewise, at 29%, they are one of the motorists least likely to avoid eating meat for sustainable reasons.
  • Seat Drivers: While we all love a hot drink while out and about, disposable cups should be avoided to reduce the ever-growing issue of single-use plastic waste. Seat drivers, however, seem less than keen on the matter, with less than half confirming they bring a reusable cup for hot drinks.
  • Toyota Drivers: As well as general low eco-habit adoption scores across the board, a clingfilm conundrum places Toyota owners among the worst eco offenders, as they stand out as the least likely to use Tupperware or reusable wraps, often opting for clingfilm or foil, which can contribute to plastic waste.
  • Vauxhall Drivers: Much like Seat drivers, Vauxhall owners suffer from cup dependency. With 41% of Vauxhall drivers not using their own cups for hot drinks, there is a missed opportunity to help reduce single-use plastic waste.

 

Eco-Friendly Driving Tips

It’s encouraging to see from this study how many eco-habits have been adopted into our daily lives,” says Erin Barker, editorial director at Auto Trader. “We would love to see more drivers making more environmentally conscious decisions on the road, whether it’s sparking your electric journey with a pre-loved electric car, or simply reducing your car’s emissions with a smoother, slower drive.”

Driving with minimal eco-impact is an essential practice to reduce your carbon footprint and help preserve the environment. Opting to purchase or lease an electric car is top of the list. However, there are plenty of other actions you can take to start driving greener today.

With 42% of people admitting they drive slower to use less fuel, Auto Trader have come up with a list of  top tips for eco-friendly driving:

  • Maintain a Consistent Speed
    Use cruise control on motorways to maintain a steady speed. This can improve fuel efficiency by reducing the need for constant acceleration and deceleration. Gradual acceleration and smooth braking help conserve fuel and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.
  • Check Tyre Pressure
    Keep your tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Under-inflated tires can decrease fuel efficiency and increase emissions.
  • Lighten Your Load
    Remove unnecessary items from your car. Extra weight can reduce fuel efficiency, so only carry what you need for your journey.
  • Limit Idling
    Idling consumes fuel and produces unnecessary emissions. Turn off your engine if you expect to be stationary for more than a minute. Modern engines are designed to handle frequent starts, hence why restarting your engine after a brief stop is more fuel-efficient than idling for an extended period.

To see the full Greenest Drivers report here.  visit: