EcoRoute: The unsung hero

[fugglefeet]

Hi all,

On a trip to Newcastle this weekend gone past, I decided to make a conscientious effort to stick to the recommended speeds for best fuel consumption according to the EcoRoute feature on the Nuvi 2200 I own. Three things resulted from this concerted effort of maintaining the suggested speeds according to Ecoroute:-

1.) The amount of fuel used from Stilfontein to Newcastle and back, was 1 full tank on a Jetta V 1.6 Comfortline DSG Tiptronic (and by far not the most economical town vehicle of its kind) with an average 7.7l/100km according to the vehicle management system (I will confess I didn't verify it with the EcoRoute, as this does give a breakdown of a preprogrammed journey for 15 seconds when power to the device is removed at ignition switch-off).

2.) I was more relaxed during the whole journey and didn't experience higher than normal road rage. I arrived at my destinations rested and less frustrated. The biggest contributor here is the cruise control of the vehicle that helped with me being relaxed.

3.) I was successful in avoiding speeding fines, by using the cruise control and sticking to the suggested speeds of the Ecoroute (for economical driving).

I am starting to suspect that the Americans have been onto something for a very, very long time by driving at 55mph (88km/h). Now the problem is get the Road Traffic Authorities to see the derived benefit of travelling at these reduced speeds. Improved fuel consumption, reduced accident fatalities and reduced wear on both the road infrastructure and fleets. This is probably where it will remain, but I am becoming a convert of EcoRoute.

Darryl

[Hennieb]

Please Darryl, do not let the authorities see this as they will use it to reduce the current 120kph on our roads to 100kph, to the frustration of many people like me that find it almost impossible to travel at such a low speed (as 120kph)...