Motorists facing soaring costs at the fuel pumps have been advised of a simple trick to cut their bills by more than £150.
Petrol and diesel prices have shot up recently due to the energy crisis, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Petrol has increased by 30p per litre in the past 12 months, hitting a record high of 161p per litre this week.
Meanwhile, diesel prices are even higher and are predicted to hit an eye-watering £2 by the end of next month, Wales Online reports. As the cost of living spirals, many of us are trying to save pennies where possible.
READ MORE: Highway Code rule means drivers can be fined £100 for parking near their homes
Experts at UK motoring association MotorEasy have revealed a tip to cut your petrol bills - and it also means you'll be keeping to the rules of the Highway Code. MotorEasy founder CEO Duncan McClure Fisher said: “One thing many people do that is entirely unnecessary is to leave their engine idling.
“This can be done first thing in the morning to ‘warm it up’ or when stuck in traffic. Even dropping off something at a friend’s house can see people leave the motor running instead of turning off the ignition.
“While this might seem very innocent, research has shown an idling engine can burn through 3-4p of fuel a minute. If you are doing 10 minutes of warming up, five days a week, and spending another 30 minutes per week stuck in traffic – that adds up to a very handy £166 a year that’s being wasted.”
Rule 123 of the Highway Code states ‘You must not leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road’. This is enforced under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, with local authorities able to issue a fine of up to £80.
Mr McClure Fisher added: “It’s obviously not great for the environment to have increased emissions escaping into the atmosphere either.”
A 2020 study found that a whopping 60% of UK motorists were unaware it’s illegal to sit in a stationary vehicle while the engine is running.
The research, by car giants Renault, also discovered male drivers were 50% more likely to leave the engine running on the school run than females.
The idling rule is one of a host of lesser-known regulations set out in the Highway Code that have the potential to catch people out.
Others include sleeping in a car when drunk, beeping your horn whilst stationary and paying at a drive-through with a mobile phone.
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