Smart car driving tips - cars are not going to go away and most of us use them, but by following these driving tips you can reduce the impact on the environment of your car journeys.

• Turn off your engine if your car is stationary for two minutes or more
• Inflating your tyres to the correct pressure can save as much as 5% on your fuel bill
• Remove heavy loads from the boot or roof of your car, they use more fuel
• Don’t brake or accelerate sharply as it is bad for fuel consumption
• Park in the shade if possible, the sun on a hot engine increases emissions that can trigger asthma and other breathing conditions

Car share – this can save on cost and stress as well as helping the environment. Visit www.nationalcarshare.co.uk or www.freewheelers.co.uk for ideas

Short journeys, before the car engine is warmed up, cause most pollution, so consider walking or cycling for these shorter trips. It's cheaper and the exercise does you good!

Consider alternative fuels, such as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), which now has over 1,300 refuelling sites in the UK. LPG emits less carbon dioxide and air pollutants. It costs around £1,500 to convert to LPG. To apply for a grant for LPG conversion and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles visit www.powershift.org.uk.

Consider a hybrid car; these use both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. These are most efficient for short distances so think about what you need your car for. The ETA’s (Environmental Transport Association) website has tips on which car will suit your needs best - see www.eta.co.uk/tools/car-buyers-guide.asp.

Public transport - overall, public transport uses less than half as much fuel per passenger than a private car. If more people took public transport traffic congestion would quickly disappear.  For example, a double track urban railway moves 30,000 people an hour. An equivalent road has 3000 - 6000 drivers on it.

Using public transport can be tricky depending on where you live, but when it works it can be cheaper and more relaxing than taking a car.

Cycling - cycling is particularly good for helping you to relax and build your fitness, leaving you less than half as likely to suffer a heart attack. In large cities such as London cycling to work is often the quickest and cheapest way of getting there. Many companies are introducing cycle parks and showers into the workplace.

For details on the National Cycle Network contact Sustrans . The Cycling Tourist Club has information on cycling routes and estimated travel times.

Walking - walking is great exercise, free and the most environmentally-friendly way to travel. For short journeys, walking is the ideal mode of travel. If everyone walked to work just one day a week, traffic congestion would be cut massively.

During term time about a fifth of traffic in the rush hour is related to children being driven to school. If you have kids and you don't live too far from their school, try walking, even if it's only one day a week. Living Streets (formerly The Pedestrians Association) campaigns for liveable streets not dominated by road traffic. Your local authority will be able to help with school travel plans.

Flying - air transport is a large contributor to the UK's greenhouse gas emissions and this looks set to grow. The Ggovernment seems committed to building more runways and getting more passengers in the air, whatever the cost. Currently, the European aviation industry receives about £30 billion in subsidies every year. Much of this is due to the fact that airlines pay only 18p tax on a litre of fuel while British motorists pay about 75p. If you're off on holiday, within the UK or beyond, where possible, think about travelling by boat or train instead of flying.