Google Maps feature that can help drivers save on fuel

With prices at the pumps rising rapidly due to the war in the Middle East, saving pennies wherever possible is vital to many motorists.

The average price of diesel is around 160.3p per litre, with petrol at about 141.5p per litre, at the time of writing.

With this in mind, experts have revealed a clever feature on Google Maps that can help you save money.

Google Maps feature that can help drivers save on fuel

Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, explained how the feature on one of the most popular sat nav apps only takes seconds to set up but could shave more than £100 off your annual motoring bill.

 He said: “Google Maps is full of great features, but there’s one in particular that is commonly ignored, which can prove a huge boost for motorists.

“All you have to do to take advantage of it is to enter your destination into the app and choose ‘directions’, then look for the three small vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

“Select ‘options’ and then look for the ‘prefer fuel-efficient routes’ toggle, which you can switch on by moving to the right.

“You can also select it via the settings in your profile.

“The software will then use a selection of specific data to make sure you’re not only saving on fuel but also being kind to the planet.”

The ‘prefer fuel-efficient routes’ software can reportedly help to save more than £100 annually on fuel bills (Image: Getty Images)

The Google feature uses real-time traffic data, road conditions and your vehicle type – including motorbikes and electric cars – to find the route that burns the least fuel.

Rather than just picking the greenest route regardless, it weighs up efficiency alongside speed, so you still arrive on time.

A study found that the fuel consumption of the most eco-friendly path is 9% lower than that of the shortest travel time, although journey duration is 9% longer.

This means that if you’re not in a rush to get to your destination, based on the average annual fuel bill of £1,200, you could be saving £108.

Mr Conway revealed some of the other features worth exploring in Google Maps.

He said: “You can change your vehicle icon to make it more suitable, use the app to remember exactly where you parked your car, plot trips with multiple stops and also avoid toll roads and bridges.”

What is the penalty for being on the phone while driving?

As explained on the Gov.uk website, it is illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or “any device that can send or receive data” while driving or riding a motorcycle.

It stressed that this means you must not use a device in your hand “for any reason” even if it is offline.

The law applies if you’re:

• stopped at traffic lights
• queuing in traffic
• supervising a learner driver
• driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving
• holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode

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There are some exceptions, such as if you need to call 999 in an emergency and it’s “unsafe or impractical to stop”, if you are safely parked or if you are making a contactless payment in a stationary vehicle, such as at a drive-through restaurant.

You can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if you hold and are caught using a device while driving.

Mr Conway concluded: “The best approach is to plan your journey before you set off, make sure your phone is securely mounted, keep your hands off it and use the voice prompts rather than looking at the screen.”

Do you have any hidden gem apps you use on your phone? Let us know in the comments.