Fuel is one of the biggest running costs for any new driver, and the good news is that you do not have to drive slowly or boringly to spend less at the pumps. Eco driving is really just good driving: smooth, planned and calm. The techniques below are the same ones examiners like to see on test, and they can cut your fuel use by around 10 to 15 per cent once they become habit.

Why Eco Driving Matters to Learners

When you are learning, everything feels busy. You are thinking about mirrors, clutch control, junctions and signalling all at once. Adding fuel saving to that list might sound like one thing too many, but eco driving actually simplifies things. Smoother inputs mean less to correct, fewer rushed decisions and a calmer drive overall.

There is a practical payoff too. Eco-safe driving is assessed on the practical driving test. Examiners are not looking for perfection, but they do notice whether you plan ahead, use the gears sensibly and avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking. Build these habits now and they will stay with you long after your test.

Accelerate Smoothly and Read the Road Ahead

The single biggest fuel waster is stop-start driving caused by poor observation. If you are constantly accelerating towards a queue and then braking hard, you are burning fuel to create momentum you are about to throw away.

Look as far ahead as you can and lift off early. If the traffic lights ahead are red, ease off the accelerator and let the car slow naturally rather than racing up to the line. Keep the car in gear while you do this, so you retain engine braking and full control.

• Accelerate progressively to your target speed, then settle into a steady throttle.
• Anticipate roundabouts, junctions and parked cars so you rarely need to brake sharply.
• Leave a generous gap to the vehicle in front, which smooths out the traffic wave ahead of you.
• Avoid unnecessary lane changes and overtakes that only gain you a few seconds.

Hard acceleration from a standstill can use significantly more fuel than a gentle build-up, and it rarely gets you anywhere meaningfully faster in town traffic.

Change Up Early and Use the Right Gear

Engines are happiest and most efficient at low-to-moderate revs. As a rough guide, change up at around 2,000 rpm in a petrol car and around 1,500 to 2,000 rpm in a diesel, then ease into the next gear smoothly. In most modern cars you can comfortably sit in fourth or fifth gear at 30 mph on a level road once you are settled.

Higher gears mean lower engine revs for the same road speed, and that means less fuel burned. It also means less engine noise, which makes for a more relaxed drive.

• Skip gears when appropriate, for example from third straight to fifth when joining a faster road.
• Do not labour the engine, though. If it shudders or feels strained, change down.
• Use the gears to slow down where you can, rather than always relying on the brakes.
• When stationary for more than a minute, and it is safe to do so, switch the engine off.

Idling is simply wasted fuel. Waiting outside a friend's house with the engine running costs you money and adds nothing to your journey.

Hold a Steady Speed and Reduce Drag

On faster roads, consistency is everything. Cruising at a steady speed uses far less fuel than repeatedly speeding up and slowing down, even if your average speed ends up the same. Where traffic and conditions allow, use cruise control on the motorway, but switch it off on hills and in busy traffic where you need fine control.

Speed has a big effect on fuel use because aerodynamic drag rises sharply as you go faster. Travelling at 80 mph instead of 70 mph can increase fuel consumption noticeably, and you will barely notice the difference in arrival time on a typical journey.

• Remove roof racks, roof boxes and bike carriers when they are not in use.
• Empty the boot of anything you do not need to carry, since extra weight costs fuel.
• Keep windows closed at higher speeds, as open windows create drag.
• Use air conditioning sparingly. It can increase fuel use by up to 10 per cent, so try the ventilation fan first.

Look After the Car and Plan Your Journeys

A well-maintained car is an efficient car, and this is one area where a few minutes of effort pays for itself.

• Check tyre pressures every month and before long journeys. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and wear out faster.
• Use the correct grade of engine oil, as recommended in your handbook.
• Keep up with servicing, especially air filters and spark plugs.
• Combine several short trips into one longer journey, since a cold engine uses more fuel.
• Plan routes to avoid known congestion, and consider walking or cycling for very short trips.

Short journeys are the worst offenders for fuel economy because the engine never reaches its efficient operating temperature. If you can combine the school run, the shops and the gym into one loop, you will use noticeably less fuel than doing them separately.

Making It Stick as a New Driver

Do not try to change everything at once. Pick one habit each week, perhaps early gear changes on Monday and reading the road further ahead on Friday, and let it bed in. Your instructor can give you feedback on how smoothly you are driving, and that feedback is worth more than any fuel-saving gadget.

The real skill is anticipation. Drivers who look well ahead, plan their speed and keep their inputs gentle use less fuel, put less wear on their car and feel far less stressed behind the wheel. That is eco driving in a nutshell, and it is a habit worth building from your very first lesson.