How to save fuel this long weekend

August is the month with the highest number of long-distance trips—of the 100 million expected by the DGT, the month is projected to close with 52.9 million. The majority of the population is on vacation, and the long weekend that begins today is an opportunity for those who still have to work to get away.

Given the increase in travel this summer, the Traffic Department has tightened road safety measures—the total number of fatalities so far this year has reached 671, a 28% decrease compared to 2024—and safety and fuel consumption are two priorities when making long road trips.

Efficient driving is the quickest way to save money when filling up—of course, finding gas stations with low prices also plays a role—and these factors are always within the driver's control.

Therefore, before leaving this bridge, it's important to keep certain tips in mind to get the most fuel out of the tank. The most effective of these is to drive smoothly, avoiding sudden acceleration and braking.

Thus, it's essential to anticipate road and traffic conditions and allow the engine to do most of the work when slowing down—if the brakes are applied, especially abruptly, kinetic energy is lost and will later have to be recovered. The key here is to consider inertia and take full advantage of it when facing hills, allowing the vehicle's weight to move it.

Keeping the engine at the lowest rev limit possible is another way to reduce fuel consumption. Always try to use the highest gears that allow you to move, and avoiding gears that rev the engine unnecessarily will reduce fuel consumption.

Although summer trips mean carrying a lot of luggage, the additional weight not only affects the car's handling but also causes fuel consumption to rise considerably, something that increases exponentially as speeds increase.

Aerodynamics plays an important role in determining fuel consumption, and little can be done here beyond the design of the car itself—because of this and their size, SUVs consume considerably more fuel than sedans—except for closing the windows, which act as a brake against wind from the road.

In addition, it's important to keep your vehicle in good mechanical condition, because the more efficient an engine is, the less fuel it consumes. Some actions, such as checking tire pressure, changing air filters, or cleaning spark plugs, are simple maintenance steps that are greatly noticeable when measuring fuel consumption.

Finally, plan your route to avoid traffic jams (during work hours on long weekends), and to find the most affordable gas stations along the way, such as the low-cost Plenergy stations. The difference in price per liter of gasoline can be 15% to 20% more expensive, and this can translate into savings of around €15 per tank.