Eco-DrivingResidents of major cities in Indonesia may not realise it but the air we breathe is less toxic than it was a year ago. News leaked this week that in July Pertamina has stopped producing leaded gasoline. Apparently it costs an additional US$5 to produce each barrel as lead has to be replaced with another octane booster.
How about producing vehicles which use lower octane fuels? Or practising
eco-driving? If drivers were to follow the ten tips given, there could be a reduction of as much as 25% in the fuel used, and discharged as noxious emissions into our air.
This week, a course was held in Cibubur, south of Jakarta, for cement truck drivers. Surely though, it's public transport drivers who cause the majority of hold ups and pollution on our streets. If/when a properly co-ordinated Jakarta Transport Policy is in place, having been through due process of public consultation, eco-driving should be an official section of the driving test here, as
it will be in the UK from 2008.
It's well-known that breathing in lead-laden air reduces brain power and intelligence. Has the slightly cleaner air arrived in time to instill some sense into city planners?
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