Keeping your vehicle as light and streamlined as possible helps reduce fuel consumption.

Remove roof- and bike-racks when they're not in use (they add wind drag), and clear out unnecessary items from your boot and inside your vehicle. Not having loose items rolling around inside the car is safer too.  

If you're buying a car, consider getting one of the smaller, more compact models: weight reduction, because of its benefits for fuel efficiency, is now an important focus of new car designs.  

There is one way you do want to load up your vehicle, though: with passengers for ride-sharing.

- Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Editor, Health24, May 2012

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