Fuel saving measures are vitally important for South African consumers

South African consumers were dealt a hard blow in April, with the VAT increase coming into effect at the beginning of the month, as well as the introduction to some new taxes.

To add to this, consumers also had to prepare for a substantial petrol and diesel increase on 3 April. 95 ULP and 93 ULP saw a 72 cents increase, and diesel saw an increase of 65 cents.

The department of energy has explained that there are two main reasons for the fuel increase. Firstly, it is due to the fuel levy and Road Accident Fund levy which also increased by a combined 52 cents at the beginning of April. Secondly, it comes from an increase in transportation costs, due to an annual increase of 3.4% in road transport tariffs, and an average increase of 25% in the pipeline transport costs.

With yet another petrol increase predicted for May 2018, it is more important than ever for consumers to implement fuel saving measures to cool the financial sting these increases inevitably bring.

There are a number of simple fuel saving initiatives South Africans can implement. Here are our top fuel saving tips:

1. Check your tyre pressure — your tyre pressure will affect your fuel consumption because under-inflated tyres will cause your vehicle to work extra hard to overcome the extra drag, resulting in increased fuel consumption.

2. Service your vehicle regularly — It is important to ensure your vehicle is serviced regularly as even simple things such as worn spark plugs and dirty oil can result in increased fuel consumption as they contribute to the efficiency of your engine.

3. Car Pool — Start a lift club with your colleagues/friends and share the fuel costs. Use each person’s vehicle on a rotational basis as this will also save wear and tear on your car.

4. Use public transport — Utilising public transport where possible will save you fuel costs.

Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle — Remove any unnecessary or heavy items from your vehicle as these will create more drag and result in increased fuel consumption.