Drivers are warned that they could be fined £ 1,000 for a simple mistake in using their gears.
Drivers who idle could face a four-digit fine for believing in a common driving myth.
Rolling out your car doesn’t save gasoline and can even damage your vehicle.
The risk of being fined is that drivers run the risk of losing control of their car.
It is not specifically illegal to drive your car downhill, but if an accident occurs and you are not in full control of your vehicle, you are at risk of having committed a crime.
Rule 122 of the Road Traffic Act states: “Sailing, a term used to describe a vehicle that is idling or driving with the clutch depressed, can limit the driver’s control.”
£ 1,000 warning to UK drivers
Drivers could be fined or even disqualified by the police if the driver got out of hand, warns LeaseLoco.
John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco, said, “When we are driving downhill in gear, our engine ECU detects that the accelerator pedal is not depressed and prevents fuel from flowing into the injectors.
“We use very little or no fuel when driving downhill in gear. However, when we coast downhill, our engine and wheels become disconnected.
“This means that a small amount of fuel has to be added to the engine because the car does not get the rotational power it needs from the wheels instead of getting that power directly from the wheels.”
