Motorists can cut their fuel bills by almost 10 pence in the pound this weekend if they adoptsmarter driving habits, according to the Royal Automobile Club Foundation, launching its tips forweekend money-saving driving today.

Around 85% of weekend trips are made for social reasons, including visiting friends and family,shopping, and holiday-making. Far from being optional, these journeys boost the economy,particularly in rural areas reliant on tourist spending, and contribute to the quality of life inthe UK by reinforcing social networks. But any motorist taking to the road this weekend will be paying between 7% and 8% more for fuel than they did over the Easter weekend.

The RAC Foundation's analysis of the cost of weekend motoring finds that a typical 18-mile weekend trip now costs 15p more for unleaded cars and 20p more for diesel vehicles. Adopting 'eco-driving' is a smart and easy way for motorists to fight back against recent fuelprice increases. Smarter driving can reduce the cost of a 18-mile weekend journey by 18-20p, an effective cut in the cost per litre of 9.5p, leaving more money in the motorists' pocket to spendat their destination.

Top tips for smarter driving include:

1. Stick to the speed limit: travelling at 20mph over a posted 50mph limit increases fuelconsumption by 30%;

2. Plan your journey: driving in circles looking for the right road wastes fuel as well as time;

3. Keep your car regularly serviced;

4. Check your tyre pressures regularly: underinflated tyres make the engine work harder to movethe car;

5. Drive smoothly: racing away from the lights and jamming on the brakes is bad for safety as wellas fuel economy;

6. Take the roof rack off: empty bars increase fuel use by as much as 10%;

7. Reduce weight in the car by decluttering unnecessary heavy items;

8. Avoid travelling during peak hours: but if you do get caught in a jam, switch off and reducefuel consumption to zero;

9. Use air conditioning appropriately, and switch off other electrical items when not needed.