PLAN AND COMBINE YOUR TRIPS

* Plan your route to avoid needless traveling.

* Stagger your traveling time to avoid peak-hour rush. You spend less time getting stuck in traffic and consume less fuel too.

* Walk all short distances. Avoid driving if your destination is within walking distance.

* Take advantage of car pool. Take turns to drive with your neighbors, friends or colleagues.

KEEP YOUR CAR IN SHAPE

* Keep the tyres properly inflated. The rolling resistance for under-inflated tyres will be greater and fuel consumption will increase. Properly inflated tyres are safer and last longer.

* Check for proper wheel alignment. More power is required to overcome improper alignment, and this in turn wastes fuel.

* Use the correct octane rating that is appropriate for your car. Unless your car requires premium petrol, filling up your car with high-octane fuel that costs more would not boost your car's fuel economy or performance.

DRIVE MORE EFFICIENTLY

* Do not keep the engine idle as it uses more fuel and increase wear and tear. Drive as soon as your engine is started, though slowly at first, picking up speed as you go. This way, the engine will warm up faster and lubricate faster. If you need to wait for more than 5 minutes, switch off your engine.

* Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops. Aggressive driving (i.e. speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes fuel. As fuel consumption increases dramatically over the first few hundred metres from a standing start, you should hence accelerate smoothly. Sensible driving is not only safer for you and other road users, it saves you fuel and money too.

* Maintain steady speeds for the best fuel economy. A car uses extra fuel when it accelerates.

* Use the air conditioner sparingly. Switch on the air conditioner only when it is necessary.

* Travel light. Clear out your boot and do not carry unnecessary weight as additional weight and vehicle add-ons have a negative effect on aerodynamics, causing engines to work harder and burn more fuel.

CHOOSE A MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLE

If you are thinking of buying or changing to a new vehicle, select a more fuel-efficient vehicle that will meet your needs. Consider the following:

* Four-wheel-drive vehicles generally uses more fuel compared to other vehicles

* Smaller capacity cars usually equate with better fuel mileage

* Light interior and exterior colours and tinted windows can reduce heat build up, which saves on air-conditioning.