The overlooked button reduces the amount of use of gasoline cars, says the expert

The simple push of a button can help drivers cut their fuel bills while getting to their destination on time, according to an expert. Sat-nav systems are a key part of modern cars, guiding people around traffic jams and bypassing toll roads to ensure every journey suits their needs.

Google Maps is one of the most popular platforms, with millions of Britons using the software on their phones or via embedded systems. But Select Car Leasing’s Graham Conway says there’s a simple button people can push to ensure they shave a few pounds off their fuel costs at the same time.

According to the RAC, yard prices have fallen slightly in recent months. But motorists are still paying an average of 147.88 per liter for petrol and 153.58 per liter for diesel. This means that any method of reducing fuel consumption is more than welcome.

Mr Conway said: “Google Maps is full of great features – but there’s one in particular that’s commonly overlooked and could prove a huge boost for drivers. All you have to do to take advantage of it is enter your destination in the app and choose “directions”, then look for the three small vertical dots in the top right corner of the screen.

“Select ‘options’ and then look for the ‘prefer fuel-efficient routes’ switch, which you can enable by swiping to the right. You can also select it through your profile settings. The software will then use a selection of specific data to ensure you’re not only saving fuel, but also being kind to the planet.”

Google’s website goes into more detail about how the feature works. It says: “Google Maps can estimate the fuel or energy efficiency of different types of vehicles, including electric and combustion engine cars as well as petrol motorcycles.

“The more fuel or energy efficient the route, the lower your vehicle’s fuel or energy consumption and CO2e emissions. To determine the best route, if this feature is enabled, Maps will consider fuel efficiency in addition to factors such as real-time traffic, route simplicity and road conditions.

“This way, in addition to the fastest route, Maps will always highlight the most efficient one, as long as there are multiple routes to your destination.”

Mr Conway said: “With satnav software being such an important part of driving these days, it’s important to make sure it works as well as possible for your individual needs. Spend some time investigating the other features – some of which are really fun – to make this a truly personalized experience.

“In Google Maps you can change your vehicle icon, use the app to remember where you’ve parked, and also route to multiple destinations in one trip, which will also take advantage of fuel efficiency calculations. A word of caution is to be careful where you place a mobile phone or satnav – or you could face a potential fine and points on your licence.”

He added: “If it obstructs your view of the road it could mean a £100 on-the-spot fine plus six penalty points. This could rise to a £1,000 fine if you unsuccessfully challenge the offence, and if a device blocking your view causes an incident, the penalties will be much harsher and affect your insurance.

“It’s also important not to touch your phone while driving, so make sure all routes are entered before you set off. Doing this or using a navigation phone that is not securely fitted will mean a £200 fine and six points.”