“The aim is to encourage motorists to anticipate what is ahead of them on the road and drive as smoothly as possible”

Eco-safe driving is the new catchphrase being promoted to motorists with the twin aims of improving road safety and saving the environment and, ultimately, saving motorists money. Put simply, the aim is to encourage motorists to anticipate what is ahead of them on the road and drive as smoothly as possible, avoiding harsh and aggressive acceleration and braking.

It can certainly be argued that such behaviour should be common sense to all drivers – indeed it is the crux of the advanced driving test – but within a few minutes of taking to the road it is clear that eco-safe driving is not at the forefront of the minds of most people behind the wheel. But, if they realised that by adopting an eco-safe philosophy behind the wheel they would probably arrive at their destination quicker, complete the journey more safely and reduce motoring costs while also causing less pollution, maybe mindsets would change. Now efforts to accelerate eco-safe driving are being promoted by the Driving Standards Agency. The qualifying examination for new driving instructors was changed 12 months ago to include an assessment of their eco-safe driving ability and, within two years, L-drivers taking their tests will be assessed on their eco-driving techniques.

For fleets, as well as private motorists, eco-safe driving equals cost-effective driving and as fuel costs rise and motoring taxes increase so companies should promote initiatives to keep operating costs under control and cut them if possible. The AA calculates that for a mediumsized car on a 100-mile motorway trip, eco-safe driving can cut fuel consumption by almost a third – saving around a gallon of fuel. Multiply that across a fleet of vehicles and the savings are huge.

The Energy Saving Trust runs a free fleet “health check” service aimed at reducing vehicle environmental impact by cutting mileage and therefore fuel consumption. A spokesman says: “Effective fleet management should take into account both the environmental impact of fleet operations and health and safety concerns. The good news is that by implementing a health-and-safety-focused policy, you are also being environmentally friendly. That’s because, in general, improving fleet performance on health and safety grounds almost always results in better fuel economy, reduced mileage and lower emissions, so environmental gains come as something of a bonus.

“Effective mileage management will bring the added benefits of better use of resources, reduced vehicle wear and tear and reduced exposure to work-related risk.” Eco-safe driving is not new. Indeed, according to Bob Millard, the Driving Standard Agency’s assistant chief driving examiner, driving to save fuel has always been on the agenda. However, he says the concept has risen to prominence due to a combination of the European Union and the government’s focus on both reducing road carnage and cleaning up the environment by reducing transport emissions.

“Effective mileage management will bring the added benefits of better use of resources, reduced vehicle wear and tear and reduced exposure to work-related risk”

But, says Mr Millard, driving safely takes precedence over everything. He says: “To save fuel you must never compromise road safety. If you drive safely and efficiently you will save fuel – that is eco-safe driving. Motorists will not only save money, but they will be less stressed while behind the wheel and there will be less wear and tear on the car so tyres, brakes, clutch, and so on will last longer.”

The DSA’s assistant chief driving examiner since 1999, Mr Millard adds: “The savings to companies of adopting an eco-safe driving style are huge and the larger the vehicle, the bigger the savings. The more we can encourage companies to take on board eco-safe driving, the better. Everyone doing their bit will improve safety and reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions but it will also save fleets money.”, Tests carried out by the DSA reveal that by adopting an eco-safe style of driving an experienced driver can cut fuel bills by 6%, a driver with just a few years’ experience can cut fuel bills by 9% and a newly-qualified driver by 15%.

Jim Kirkwood, managing director of driver training and risk management experts DriveTech (UK), which has helped develop the Department for Transport’s Safe and Fuel Efficient Drivers (SaFED) project (see page 103), says: “With the increase in interest in environmental issues and the seemingly ever-increasing cost of fuel, eco-safe driving is now on the political and the fleet agenda. “Clearly, eco-safe driving offers many potential emission and cost benefits by exploiting many best-practice techniques.

“However, driving in an ‘eco-friendly’ way always needs to be balanced with appropriate and safe driving practice. For example, driving in fourth or fifth gear in a 30 mph zone may use less fuel and hence reduce emissions, but it will also provide less vehicle control by reducing the driver’s ability to manoeuvre quickly in the event of an unexpected hazard. “Overall, DriveTech supports the move towards eco-safe driving through a firm commitment to encouraging safe driving practices.”

Putting eco driving to the test Eco-safe driving does not mean that you have to drive slowly, says Bob Millard, assistant chief driving examiner at the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), as we drove out of the organisation’s Training and Development Centre in Cardington, Bedfordshire. We left the venue in a Volvo V40 1.8 for a 25-minute largely urban drive around nearby Bedford with me driving in my “normal style”. But, with 28 years’ experience behind the wheel and having passed my advanced test, there still remained skills to both learn and improve as Mr Millard assessed my driving on the 10.67-mile route. Hazard perception is key to driving in a safe and “green” style and almost equally important is multishift gear changes, a phenomenon provided for by the flexibility of today’s engine technology. I have a tendency, says Mr Millard to hold on to lower gears for too long when eco-safe driving is about using the highest gear possible at all times provided the engine is not stressed and road safety is not compromised. “Being aware of what is going on around you all the time and not being caught by sudden movement is the secret to eco-safe driving” Apart from that comment and a slight habit of revving the car as I slipped into second and third gear, Mr Millard says that my driving was smooth. It seemed a good start, but as we swapped places and Mr Millard drove around the same route “eco-safely” it was obvious that there were areas to improve on. First gear is the most fuel-hungry so move out of it as soon as possible, but it was also apparent that Mr Millard was hardly ever in first gear as his and planning meant he rarely stopped even during the largely urban drive. “Being aware of what is going on around you all the time and not being caught by sudden movement is the secret to eco-safe driving,” says Mr Millard. “If you are looking ahead and planning then vehicle economy will improve and emission reductions will follow.” What also became clear during the drive was that it is about “knowing your car” and how it responds in different gears, particularly pulling away in first or second. Pulling away too fast uses up to 60% more fuel. After the lesson, I returned to the driving seat and we completed the same route, despite seemingly more traffic on the road – by now it was lunchtime – but hold-ups were minimal and, as a result of improved anticipation, I did not stop as frequently on my “eco-safe” drive. With me at the wheel twice and Mr Millard once we covered 32.01 miles at an average speed of 27mph and returned 39.1 mpg. But, as the Volvo was fitted with an “econometer” further analysis was possible. Would the concept of eco-safe driving stand up to in-depth scrutiny? A classroom discussion about the advantages of eco-safe driving – improved road safety, reduced driver stress levels, reduced damage to the environment and major cost savings – is one thing, but in the real world …? My first drive on the prescribed route took 25.09 minutes as I averaged 24.85mph, stopped eight times and returned fuel economy of 32.8 mpg with average engine revs of 3,392 rpm. However, on my second run – the “eco-safe” drive – the journey took 23.56 minutes at an average speed of 26.7mph, during which I stopped six times and returned fuel economy of 36.6 mpg with average engine revs of 3,136 rpm. So by planning ahead and anticipating hazards, using my gears and being slightly lighter with my right foot, I had completed the 10.67 mile journey in an “eco-safe” driving style in both a faster time and at a higher average speed than in my “normal” driving style, used less fuel and with lower revs put less strain on the engine, which therefore reduces vehicle wear and tear. Multiply such savings across a vehicle fleet and eco-safe driving makes sense environmentally, economically and, importantly, from a safety perspective. Ashley Martin How eco-safe driving can make a difference (figures for the 10.67-mile journey before and after training and those for Bob Millard)   Before After Bob Millard Time 25.09 mins 23.56 mins 24.12 mins Fuel consumption 32.8 mpg 36.6 mpg 38.17 mpg Average speed 24.85 mph 26.7 mpg 6.09 mpg Number of stops 8 6 5 Engine revs (ave) 3,392 3,136 2,892

“1.2 million people are killed and another 50 million injured globally on the roads each year”

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has recently published “Drive Green – Drive Safely” that outlines 10 ways to cut fuel costs and vehicle emissions by 15-20%. The impact of most will also improve the safety of drivers and fellow road users. Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman says: “There are simple things we can all do to make for cleaner, safer journeys. Driving safely and smoothly and keeping your car in good shape helps reduce the risk of accidents, cuts down on harmful exhaust emissions, and saves you money.

The more we get this message across, the better.” And Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the SMMT, says: “Climate change and road casualties – these are two of the biggest challenges for society. Across the globe, temperatures are rising and scientists blame man-made carbon dioxide. “Meanwhile 1.2 million people are killed and another 50 million injured globally on the roads each year. Although figures are falling, deaths on UK roads still number more than 3,000 each year. Every death, be it at home or overseas, is a tragedy.

“Yet it’s a simple fact that no car emits carbon dioxide, or any other harmful gas, when it’s not being driven. Nor do cars harm people, unless they are driven irresponsibly, without regard to the rules of the road or consideration of other road users. “Car makers are making excellent progress in bringing greener cars to market, fitted with the latest safety enhancing technologies. But we also think we have a part to play to encourage responsible motoring. That means helping motorists understand their role – the steps they can take to limit emissions and ensure they take every precaution to prevent harm coming to them, their loved ones and other road users.”

“Drive Green – Drive Safely” is available at: Website: www.smmt.co.uk

Scheme for safer van driving
Thousands of van drivers are starting to benefit from a new government-funded advanced driving scheme designed to promote safe and fuel-efficient driving. The £1.3 million Department for Transport Safe and Fuel Efficient Drivers (SaFED) project, developed with advice from RoadSafe, has been launched to initially encourage 3,500 van drivers to drive safer, cleaner and cheaper by the end of June 2007.

Using fuel more efficiently means:

• Lower costs
• Improved profit margins
• Reduced emissions
• Improved environmental performance

Safer driving means:

• Less injuries and fatalities on the roads
• Less accident damage to vehicles
• Less unproductive downtime for vehicle repair
• Reduced insurance premiums

“Incorrectly inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 10% and can endanger lives”

Two hundred instructors have been trained in the principles of assessing SaFED and deliver courses, which began in late spring. The scheme follows a successful pilot project and a similar SaFED programme that trained more than 6,000 HGV drivers and revealed that safe and fuel-efficient driving does not add extra time to journeys.

Van drivers in small businesses or medium-sized companies using their own van qualify for free training under the scheme, while other drivers or their employers are asked to make a contribution to the training with the money reinvested into additional activity in the SaFED project.

The pilot LCV SaFED scheme, co-developed on behalf of the DfT by programme operator Momenta and risk management and driver training experts DriveTech (UK) involved 25 van drivers from the Royal Mail and “Sainsbury’s to You” stores and found that benefits for a typical driver clocking up 20,000 miles a year could include:

• Savings of up to £500 of diesel per vehicle resulting in fuel consumption improvements of around 10%
• Over a quarter tonne reduction in carbon emissions 59% fewer gear changes
• Fewer accidents, lower insurance premiums, lower running costs and higher resale value of vehicles

The one-day course involves a mix of classroom and on-theroad tuition and teaches driving techniques such as better use of gears; keeping correct braking distances so as to avoid harsh braking; fuel economy, how to handle time pressures and better road awareness.

“In the long term, if the SaFED style of driving and fuel monitoring is continued, there could be significant changes in the running costs of a van fleet“

On-the-road training sees drivers follow set route driving in their “normal style”, which is later followed again utilising SaFED principles. Following the pilot a Momenta spokesman said: “Many drivers expressed surprise that the route they drove did not take any longer to complete and believed that the techniques were easy to apply during normal ‘day-to-day’ driving.

“Drivers also reported reduced stress and fatigue levels as a result of doing less physical work in the vehicle and by having a more controlled approach to hazards. The drivers also indicated that they had more time to assess the actions of other drivers.

“In the long term, if the SaFED style of driving and fuel monitoring is continued, there could be significant changes in the running costs of a van fleet. In particular, parking and manoeuvring incidents could be lowered following SaFED training as many drivers currently do not receive any formal training in low-speed manoeuvring of a vehicle of this size.” Launching the scheme Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said: “The white van fleet keeps the British economy moving. Van drivers can play their part in making Britain a greener place, at the same time making a tidy saving.”

The SaFED HGV scheme is no longer available – although a separate project has been launched by the Scottish Executive – but it trained a total of 6,375 people to drive safer, cleaner and cheaper and now more than 370 instructors are able to deliver SaFED training. AXA Insurance offers Road Haulage Association members who use AXA Direct a 5% discount if all drivers are SaFED trained. It is calculated that SaFED training for the 6,375 drivers – 3,121 of who worked for companies employing less than 50 people – resulted in the industry saving £10,456,455 in fuel, based on the total number of drivers trained and their average annual mileage. That’s equivalent to an average mpg improvement of 10.01% and a saving of 13,941,941 litres of fuel.

The training also revealed that figures for 6,043 drivers showed an average reduction in gear changes of 36.9%. Data collected from 6,326 drivers on the length of time taken to complete the first and second drives showed that there was an average decrease in the time taken to complete the second run of 0.92%, which highlights that safe and fuelefficient driving does not add extra time to journeys. Meanwhile, the Scottish Executive has awarded a contract to provide driver development training for up to 60 instructors and 1,070 truck drivers with a total of 1,400 drivers expected to be trained by 31 March 2007.

The training is being funded as part of the Scottish Road Haulage Modernisation Fund and will help truck drivers to further develop their safe and fuel-efficient driving techniques. The scheme, which involves a one-day training course that covers fuel-efficient driving techniques and emphasises accident prevention and reduction, is free for drivers in Scotland, though a small charge may apply to larger operators.

Further details on SaFED are available at: Website: www.safed.org.uk