A FUEL-efficiency research published in a UK magazine has indicated that Guernsey’s speed limits makes economical and ecological sense.
The results were published in The Times after a study commissioned by What Car? magazine. It was based on five vehicles of varying sizes and found that the most efficient driving speed was below 40mph for all five and as low as 20 for two.
Environment Department member Barry Paint said he thought the research proved Guernsey’s speed limit had been right all along. ‘It is my opinion that we have had the limits right in Guernsey for all these years and this just helps confirm that,’ he said.
‘Anything that helps people save fuel and cuts down on emissions is good and if this research will encourage people to drive at the correct speed, then it is positive.’
Deputy Paint said he had suspected the study results to be true because of personal experience.
‘When I have driven on the Continent at higher speeds, I have seen no indication that my car is covering more miles to the gallon.
‘The thing that has made the biggest difference in that respect is technology advancement because my current car uses a quarter less fuel per distance than previous models did,’ he said.
Pedestrian safety group Living Streets Guernsey’s secretary Pat Wisher said the research was good news for Island motorists.
‘If it encourages drivers to stay within our speed limits, then it has to be a good thing, and with fuel prices rising, perhaps people who are money-conscious will be more aware of their speed.’
She said she was surprised to hear the results of the test because she had always thought the optimum speed for fuel economics was 50mph, though she never drives so fast herself.
Guernsey Climate Action Network spokeswoman Rosie Dorey said she thought the news could have an impact on the way people drive.
‘There are many ways we can cut down on our fuel emissions and this speed issue is an essential one,’ she said.
‘As a cyclist I often see people accelerating unnecessarily and driving too fast, then slamming on brakes to get round me.
‘That stop-start method burns much more fuel than driving smoothly at a consistent pace.’
Mechanic Matt Hutchins, from the Baubigny Car Hi-Fi garage, said he questioned how relevant the test results were.
‘I think fuel consumption has much more to do with how aerodynamic your car is and it’s mostly down to wind resistance, so if you drive a big, boxy car, you burn more,’ he said.
‘Look at Formula One cars and how much companies spend each year trying to make them more aerodynamic to keep them on the track, faster, for longer.’
‘If you want to conserve fuel in Guernsey, perhaps the best way will be to avoid the one-way system around the new schools,’ he said.
The study was carried out by a former AA fuel-efficiency expert, Peter de Nayer, who fitted cars with a fuel-flow meter and tested them at Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire.
‘By allowing a bit more time for their journeys, UK drivers will not only protect their licences from speeding points but save themselves a significant amount of money,’ he said.
* Amongst the results, he discovered that the average car uses 34% more fuel at 60mph than at 40.
According to the study, the cars that achieved the most miles per gallon were built by Toyota and the least efficient by Land Rover.
The UK Energy Research Centre, a government-funded body, found that if all drivers observed even the 70mph UK limit, their vehicles would emit 3.7m. fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
That was the equivalent of taking 3m. Ford Focuses off the roads.
Loading ...
11 Article Comments
Mr Paint is deluding himself. Whilst driving at a constant 35 miles per hour may be economical, the style of driving in Guernsey is stop start stop start which gives drivers an appalling rate of miles per gallon.
Improvements to the traffic lay out are the answer. Remove the pedestrian crossings at the Weighbridge roundabout. Create a one way system for access to Chequers from the coast road. Remove the traffic lights. Educate drivers to a higher standard than currently accpeted.
Johnson
Guernseys unique road system makes higher speeds impossible,modern cars with 6 gears or more cannot use these gears on Guernsey,so cars cannot be driven in the way intended.
As said above the only way to get the best from cars is an intelligent “keep the traffic moving”system.
A car standing still with the engine running in a “jam” or at a traffic light is exausting more poison than a car on the move.
And a car being driven at 30mph in 3rd or 4th gear is using much more fuel than one doing 80 in 6th.
Add to all this that most cars never reach their operating temperature over such short distances as are driven in Guernsey, then until the water and oil has reached its ideal temp then you won’t get the best MPG.
I drive a car here in Germany that averages 7litres per 100 KMs, while in Guernsey I average 12litres per 100KMs.
The only practical way to cut down car pollution in Guernsey, is, in my opinion, to limit the size and power of cars!
Hope my views don’t upset the Ferrari and Viper owners?
—-
Donald
We are too concerned about being green over here.
We should be driving faster and killing more people despite the additional expense on fuel. There are too many planet hugging green environmentalists and anti-car safety activists on this island. We really need a fun fair way to thin them out a bit. An island wide 70MPH speed limit would really help.
I agree in part with Donald above. There can be no justification for anybody resident in Guernsey to drive large or powerful cars, no justification at all. We should introduce incentives to encourage smaller vehicles and perhaps a green tax on people (usually the upper parish residents) who insist on driving ridiculous 4 x 4s or similar on our tiny roads.
I applaud those lovely small cars that I have seen parked near the model yacht pond and would like to see some areas (perhaps all of the north beach car park) redesignated for diminutive vehicles only, all large cars will have to go to the salary corner.
I think its time that all you boy racers, mid-life crisis sufferers and those of you who are trying to compensate for a self percieved lack! Give up your silly boy toys and GROW UP!
In response to D_T above.
How would you expect a ‘lovely small car’ to tow a horse box? or come and tow your car when it breaks down?
it wouldnt.
so think about what your saying first. for some people a 4×4 isnt a choice. its essential.
anon. A man can pull an aeroplane with his teeth. I remember being towed by a DAF variable automatic. Probably not much more than 500cc. What did people do before 4×4s? Those kids on the school run must’ve been so hard done by!
So think about what you’re saying. A 4×4 is just an aspiration to belong to a ’set’.
In a perfect motoring world in may be true Guernseys speed limits make economical and ecological sense. But Guernsey is certainly not the perfect motoring world, it’s not even stop start motoring in Guernsey it’s stop, stop, stop,it’s called Guernsey curtesy. Here we see another case of statistics over reality.
why doesnt everyone just walk or ride pushbikes then?
saves all this moaning.
and Lawrence, id like to see you pull a plane with your teeth.
gsygal
Just highlighting that people have got sucked in to believing that extra horsepower is necessary. It really isn’t.
what A load of complete rubbish,, as a moter mechanic i can tell you that a cars eoconmy is at its most when you are traveling at a steady speed with low engine revs in the highest optimin gear,, yes wind resitanace does eat into your fuel eoncomy but only once you get above 65mph,, ask any one who takes there car away theyll all say on the moter way they got excellent eoconmy… slow frustating stop/starting speeds stuck in 1st and second gear is not good for eoconmy or blood pressure!! get a life!!
further more im not saying speeding around is good thing,, but more thought could be givin to some of our road lay outs,, Jersey seem to have the idea with there one way systems and slightly higher speed limits,,
most accidents over here are caused by lack of concerntration.. due to fact we are all toddling a long, noising down peoples drive ways rather than paying attention to what we are actually doing.
ps!! stop winging about 4×4s most of them do not have terribly big engines,a lot are actually diesel and are not uneconomical to drive there are alot more big engined estate cars out there like bmws and merc with 3litre plus petrol engines and auto boxs which burn much much more fuel!! but you eco-geeks dont reconise them!
its far easyier to reconise 4×4 and point the thinger at them isnt??
and maybe your right may be we should all drive smart cars,, and take three cars wen we want to transport 5people??