'Green' awareness to be part of driving test

'Eco-safe' driving will be included in the driving test from this autumn as part of the government's campaign to cut carbon emissions. From September, candidates will be assessed on how green their driving is - including not accelerating or braking sharply, and knowledge of other tips such as checking tyre pressures and avoiding unnecessary baggage in the back.

Nobody will be passed or failed on the issues, but research has shown that 'eco-driving' can save between 5 and 17 per cent of fuel - and so emissions - and is safer, too, says the Department for Transport. The DfT estimates that, if all drivers in the UK followed the tips, CO2 emissions from cars could be reduced by 8 per cent - or more than 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year, saving motorists more than £2bn a year. In the Netherlands, specialists believe fuel use could be cut by up to one third.