By Duncan Ferguson, FleetRisk.
Drivers are the number one contributor to both safe and environmentally friendly driving practices.
A recent National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) thought leadership paper,
The Interface Between Eco-Driving and Safe-Driving, found that fuel efficiency could be increased by around 20% by using eco-driving and low-risk driving principles.
Further analysis found that “eco-driving reduced the crash rate by 25% because eco-driving also involves a driving style that can be anticipated, maintaining a steady speed, less speeding, less overtaking and less stress/aggressiveness, making eco-driving a low-risk driving style.”
Driving in a low-risk, safe manner contributes to lower fuel use, and thus a reduction in emissions and pollution. Drivers need to be conscious of how to drive vehicles safely with consideration for the environment. Studies by Toyota (Japan) and FleetRisk (Australia) found fuel efficiency could be increased by around 20% by using eco-driving and low-risk driving principles.
So, how do make drivers more conscious of their driving behaviour and what advice should we give them? We suggest that the advice should be kept simple. Drivers need to be mindful of:
- How they brake
- How they accelerate
- The speed at which they drive
How a driver brakes and accelerates is particularly important in built up areas, where nearly 50% of fuel consumption occurs during acceleration and braking. Drivers need to concentrate on the flow and traffic and create sufficient time and space around themselves. This will help them maintain a steady speed. The ability to cruise is important; at 50km/h a typical car needs just 5% of its engine power to maintain momentum.
So, how do you establish/reinforce good driving behaviour? The top-operators in the HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) sectors use a variety of monitoring systems to determine driver behaviour and reward excellence. These driver rewards can come in the form of direct financial incentive and/or recognition.
What is not commonly appreciated is that the same approach is equally applicable to organisations running light vehicles and passenger cars (the NRSPP case studies quoted above are from vehicles in this sector). It’s an approach worth investigating. Given that some of your drivers will already be exhibiting eco/safe driving behaviours, it is fair to estimate that you could cut between 10 to 20% off you fuel usage, while raising the overall safety profile of your organisation.
For more information contact info@fleetrisk.com.au