As a new week begins, many motorists start the same routine: work runs, school drop-offs, errands, meetings and traffic.

By Friday, one complaint is common: fuel disappeared too fast. Sometimes the problem is not only fuel prices.

It is driving habits, small oversights and daily routines that quietly waste petrol or diesel without many people noticing.

The good news is that some fuel losses can be reduced through simple, practical changes. Here are five genuine tips that can help.

1. Avoid unnecessary acceleration

This is one of the biggest fuel wasters.

Unnecessary acceleration means pressing the pedal hard when there is no real need.

For example, rushing toward a red light, speeding up only to brake a few metres ahead, or constantly jumping forward in slow traffic.

When you accelerate hard, the engine burns more fuel to produce extra power. If that speed is not needed, the extra fuel is wasted.

Smooth and gradual acceleration usually uses less fuel and also reduces wear on brakes and tyres.

2. Maintain correct tyre pressure

Tyres that are underinflated create more rolling resistance. In simple terms, the car has to work harder to move along the road.

That extra effort means the engine uses more fuel.

Checking tyre pressure regularly is a small habit that can make a real difference over time. It can also improve safety and tyre lifespan.

Always use the pressure recommended for your vehicle.

3. Remove unnecessary weight

Many cars carry items in the boot for weeks or months that are never used.

Old tools, broken parts, unused luggage, boxes or heavy loads all add weight.

The heavier the vehicle, the more energy it needs to move. More energy usually means more fuel.

Clearing out unnecessary items can improve efficiency, especially in daily driving.

4. Reduce long idling

Idling means leaving the engine running while the car is not moving.

This happens when waiting outside shops, sitting in parking areas, making calls or waiting for someone for long periods.

Fuel is still being used even though the car is going nowhere. Repeated short idling periods throughout the week can add up.

If you expect to wait for a while and it is safe to do so, switching off the engine can help.

5. Plan trips properly

Several short trips done separately can waste more fuel than one organised journey.

For example, going out for shopping, returning home, and then leaving again for another nearby errand uses more fuel than combining those stops into one route.

Planning your week, grouping errands and avoiding unnecessary back-and-forth movement can reduce mileage and save fuel.

Fuel saving is not always about drastic changes. Often, it comes from everyday habits: gentler acceleration, proper tyre pressure, less weight, less idling and smarter trip planning.

As the week begins, small driving decisions can make a bigger difference than many motorists realise.

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