Doing Your Bit

The main source of air pollution in Islington comes from road vehicles and reducing emissions from this source can only be achieved if we all "do our bit".

Doing your bit when you travel

Think about whether you always need to use your car. Cutting out some of those short journeys could really help in reducing emissions.

Here are some top travel tips.

• Walk when you can, it will also benefit your health
• Cycle - take advantage of the designated cycle routes
• Use public transport- use the tube, a train or the bus networks
• Share car journeys - the school run, journeys to work and shopping trips

Doing your bit when driving

There are several steps that we could all take to make our driving more environmentally friendly. They may seem small, but taken together, they could make a considerable improvement to our air quality both in the borough and in the country as a whole.

So if you want to help the environment and keep air pollution levels down are some tips for greener motoring:

• Keep your car well serviced
  A regularly serviced car produces less pollution.
• Buy cleaner fuels
  Most people now use lead free petrol. But now you could use low sulphur diesel and cleaner petrol. Check availability in your area.
• Drive more slowly!
  It can save lives, but will also save you money. For example, you use 30% more fuel driving at 70mph than 50mph
• Drive more smoothly!
  Think ahead - and avoid sharp braking and rapid acceleration. It saves fuel.
• Switch off - don't idle!
  If you've stopped, switch off! If you're idling, while waiting or in a traffic jam, you're getting zero miles to the gallon. So, switch off if you can - and that applies to the air conditioning too!
• Check your tyre pressure
  If your tyres are at the right pressure, you'll drive more smoothly and save fuel
• Cut down wind resistance
  Remove roof racks and other accessories if you're not using them: a fully loaded roof rack increases consumption by 30%!
• Use your gears as efficiently as possible
  Drive in as high a gear as possible. You'll use a quarter less fuel doing 40mph in fifth than in third!
• Travel light
  If you don't need it, don't take it.
• Plan your journey
  There's no surer way to waste fuel than to get lost! Be certain that you have planned the best way to your destination, and think about the time you travel - don't travel in the rush hour, if you can avoid it
• Share your trips
  If you can share your car, you'll save emissions and share the cost
  
  

For more information, see the Greener Driving link under Related Information on the right.