What does Joe Average remember of 1973? Few people would associate this year with something of National or International importance. Some would just shrug it off as just another year, or may be it was a good wine year!

Wrong! This was the year in which the world for the first time encountered a fuel crisis like never before. Subsequently 1973 and the oil crisis was a watershed in the oil- and the motor industry.

Before 1973, except for a few light hiccups experiencing in sustainable provision of oil to the entire world, motor companies main objective was to produce monster of motor engines to satisfy any power and speed freak. Fuel consumption of motor cars was very low on the priority list. Fuel was available in abundance. Or so we thought.

What a reality shock the 1973 Yom Kippur War was. The entire world was in disarray. The motor industry was at that time the barometer of any developed country’s economy. Suddenly the huge fuel insufficient motor cars became an Albatross for their owners and their manufacturers. Many major motor vehicle manufacturers were doomed for closure. Only the fittest would survive and the fittest were those who adapted to smaller fuel efficient cars.

But, out of the negative the positive was born. The oil crisis of the 70’s revolutionized the motor industry world wide. It not only gave way for smaller fuel efficient cars. The old fuel hungry monsters were revamped into light weight fuel efficient vehicles with the result that the power hunger drivers could still satisfy their need for speed.

And it was the latter that led fuel companies and motor manufacturing companies to the believe that whatever the size of a car, it is not to be blamed for increased fuel consumption and subsequently a waste of a scarce commodity. The focus was now on the driver. Cars were no longer to be blamed for the excessive use of fuel. The focus shifted to cultivate responsible drivers worldwide. Motor manufacturing companies and fuel companies spend billions on promoting responsible driving.

 But what does it take to be a responsible driver, even more than 30 years since the oil crisis?

The following is the Top Ten Hints to be a responsible driver:

1. Fuel efficiency of a car’s engine is enhanced by a combination of good driving techniques and the correct fuel for your car. Always work on your driving techniques and always ensure that you use the fuel recommended by the car’s manufacturer. Together with the fuel companies they spend a lot of money and time to ensure the correct relationship between engine performance and fuel economy.
2. Remember, aggressive drivers consume up to one third more fuel than a responsible driver.
3. Always change gears with circumspection whilst your vehicle is accelerating.
4. Ensure that your tires are always inflated according to the vehicle- and tire manufacturers’ recommendations. Under-inflated tires would cause higher fuel consumption.
5. Avoid speeding. The faster you go the higher the wind resistance will be and subsequently higher fuel consumption.
6. Service your car’s engine regularly and ensure that oil is also changed. Remember to honor the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals.
7. When not using it, remove the car’s roof carrier. A roof carrier negatively influences the aerodynamics of a car which in turn also causes higher fuel consumption.
8. Avoid additional weight to the car. Remove any unnecessary baggage for instance you golf set as additional weight causes your engine to labor harder which also causes higher fuel consumption.
9. Utilize the air-conditioner of a car with only when necessary and only for short periods.
10.  Cut the engine when waiting for someone or when waiting in a long queue. Not only will you save fuel but you will also save the world from dangerous exhaust fumes

Be a responsible citizen of the Planet. Transport has become a necessity but by wasting the Planets precious resources (oil) we are accelerating the crisis. And the crisis is already here.

Be a responsible driver!