Save Money Through Safe Driving
- Selina Barker
- May 6
- 4 min read
Fuel remains one of the largest operating costs for commercial fleets, especially as prices inflate and margins tighten. While many fleets focus on equipment upgrades or fuel purchasing strategies, one critical factor is often overlooked: the person behind the wheel. How drivers operate their vehicles day-to-day plays a significant role in both safety and fuel efficiency, making driver behavior a key lever fleets can use to control costs.
At the recent Truck World show in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, industry panelists explored the relationship between fleet fuel costs and driver behavior, highlighting the impact that everyday habits can have on how much a company spends on fuel.
“You can save up to 35% in fuel between somebody that drives really bad and somebody that drives really well...” Martin de Repentigny, co-founder of Drivewise
Safe driving practices use less fuel than aggressive driving behaviors. Habits like smooth acceleration, maintaining steady speeds, and avoiding unnecessary braking help reduce fuel consumption. By contrast, speeding and sudden acceleration cause engines to work harder and burn fuel faster. When drivers obey traffic regulations and operate vehicles calmly, fleets can significantly lower their fuel costs.
Harsh Acceleration, Anticipation, and Space
One of the simplest ways drivers can improve fuel efficiency is by paying closer attention to how they accelerate. Acceleration sets the tone for how efficiently a vehicle operates, especially in stop-and-go or urban driving. Gradually applying pressure to the gas pedal allows the vehicle to gain speed smoothly until you’ve reached an appropriate speed for the traffic, road, and weather conditions. By focusing on steady, controlled acceleration, drivers can use fuel more efficiently while also creating a safe, more predictable driving experience.
“Imagine an open cup of coffee on the dashboard. Don’t spill it!”
Lack of anticipation increases the likelihood of sudden braking, which often leads to harsh acceleration and increased fuel consumption. When drivers can’t see what is happening ahead or fail to anticipate the flow of traffic, they can be caught off guard by hazards and be forced to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision. Hard braking wastes momentum, so when the driver accelerates again, the vehicle is starting from a standstill rather than coasting on forward propulsion. Regaining speed from zero requires the engine to work harder and burn more fuel in a shorter period of time, ultimately depleting the gas tank faster than a driver who anticipates the flow of traffic and maintains steady movement.
Anticipating traffic movement early allows drivers to identify hazards well before reaching them. By looking far ahead, drivers can recognize slowing traffic and ease off the accelerator sooner, so they avoid congestion points by arriving as traffic begins moving again. Focusing on the space you will occupy in 12 to 15 seconds makes it easier to spot issues such as debris or lane closures in advance, providing time to change lanes safely. This approach helps drivers to continue coasting and apply only light acceleration as needed to maintain a safe speed. The result is smoother driving, lower fuel consumption, and reduced fuel costs.
Maintaining a safe following distance also helps drivers see farther ahead. When a driver follows too closely, the vehicle in front of them blocks their view, limiting how much of the road can be seen beyond it. Staying at least 2 seconds behind other vehicles improves visibility and provides more time to react. This distance should be increased when visibility is limited or in adverse weather conditions, as this added space allows more room to stop safely and reduces the risk of skidding into the vehicle ahead.
Maintain a Steady Speed
Stop-and-go traffic is notorious for wasting gas and being harsh on your vehicle. Frequent braking disrupts momentum, forcing drivers to repeatedly reapply the accelerator, which leads to inefficient fuel use and higher overall fuel consumption.
“Fuel-efficient driving can save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year, improve road safety and prevent wear on your vehicle.”
To improve efficiency and reduce fuel costs, drivers should maintain a steady speed whenever possible. Once a vehicle reaches an appropriate speed for traffic and weather conditions, momentum can do much of the work. By relying on steady forward motion and only applying light throttle as needed, drivers can avoid unnecessary fuel use while maintaining a consistent, safe space.
To create space for coasting, drivers should avoid heavy traffic whenever possible and maintain a safe following distance. Leaving several seconds of space between vehicles reduces the need to brake every time traffic even slightly slows. With adequate spacing, a driver can often continue coasting when the vehicle ahead brakes briefly, resuming speed smoothly as traffic picks up again. If traffic slows significantly or comes to a stop, the driver should decelerate gradually or stop a few seconds behind the vehicle ahead as needed until traffic starts moving again.
“Most cars, vans, pickup trucks and SUVs are most fuel-efficient when they’re travelling between 50 and 80 km per hour [31-50 mph]. Above this speed zone, vehicles use increasingly more fuel the faster they go. For example, at 120 km per hour [75 mph], a vehicle uses about 20% more fuel than at 100 km per hour [62 mph].”
Maintaining space ahead of the vehicle also allows drivers more time to spot and avoid hazards such as debris, potholes, or sudden braking by the vehicle ahead. This space cushion allows for more gradual stopping, mitigating the risk of skidding or rear-end collisions. In the event of being struck from behind, adequate spacing prevents the vehicle from being pushed into traffic ahead, limiting damage and reducing the risk of injury to the driver and others on the road.
Safe Driving Uses Less Fuel
With gas prices on the rise, everyone is trying to save money at the pumps. Adopting good driving habits lowers fuel consumption, meaning fewer trips to the pump and less overall fuel spending.
“Driver behavior remains the single biggest lever fleets can pull to improve both fuel efficiency and safety, but changing habits at scale requires a combination of training, data, and meaningful incentives.”
If your fleet is overspending on gas, encouraging drivers to slow down, look around, and give themselves more space can make a measurable difference. Aggressive driving rarely delivers meaningful time savings, but it does burn more fuel and increases the risk of collisions, injuries, and death.
Eco driving lessons from alertdriving help reduce fuel expenses by teaching practical, safety-focused driving strategies, including route planning and creating space cushions. Contact us at sales@alertdriving.com to learn more.
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