To coincide with last week's Earth Day, Ford has highlighted its specially developed Eco-Driving programme, which is run in Germany. To date, more than 10,000 drivers have benefited from the Ford Eco-Driving programme, which has been running since 2000.

Drivers who adopt the Ford Eco-Driving style will see an average fuel saving of 25 per cent and thus, a similar reduction in CO2 emissions. For the average driver, this can mean a yearly saving of approximately €300 and a saving of 500 kilos in emissions.

Ford has gone green with a new Eco-Driving Programme that shows drivers how to save fuel and lessen the impact of their driving style on the environment.

Among the techniques taught to participants in the Ford Eco-Driving programme are the following:

Drive in a smooth, relaxed style, at an even speed and leave sufficient distance between you and the car in front to minimise the need for sudden braking e.g. approx. three seconds distance - that's approx. 40m at 50km/h;

Change lanes early - before encountering any obstacles; that will save you from braking unnecessarily or accelerating to get into the desired lane;

Belt up, switch on ignition and set out immediately: don't warm up the engine;

Keep the revs down: with modern engines you should be able to keep between 1500-2500 revs. Ten to fifteen years ago this would have been 2500-4000rpm. Low revs also reduce noise - one car at 4000rpm is equivalent to 32 cars at 2000 revs;

Guide to using gears:

• From 30kmh - 3rd gear
• From 40 kmh - 4th gear
• From 50kmh - 5th gear

At a steady 50km, you use 17 per cent more fuel in fourth than in fifth. Overall advice for gear changes: 'Move up the gears quickly, down the gears slowly.'

In stop-start traffic:

• avoid sudden acceleration and braking;
• release foot from accelerator early;
• move into neutral and let car roll forward to a stop;

If you're stopped for more than 20 seconds (e.g. loading, at a level crossing or in a traffic jam etc.) you can save energy by switching off the ignition. You use the same fuel stopped for three minutes with the engine running as you do travelling for one km at 50kmh;

Most cars are on underinflated tyres - this wastes fuel. Even 0.2 bar underinflation increases rolling resistance by up to ten per cent. Check your pressures regularly;

Use air conditioning only when needed and turn off heated windscreen and rear window as soon as they are clear;

Make sure your car is serviced as prescribed;

Avoid short journeys - they use most fuel and cause most wear on a car.

"With the increased focus on the environmental impact of motoring, Ford, like other manufacturers, is striving to produce more environmentally-friendly vehicles," said Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland. "But no matter what car you drive, the Ford Eco-Driving programme shows that by simply adopting different driving techniques, drivers can make a huge contribution to saving fuel and lessening the environmental impact of their driving."

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