Reduce your business costs with an eco-driving course

Ecodriving is energy-efficient driving and for businesses that have a large fleet of vehicles investing in driver training can reduce not only fuel bills by up to 10% per week but also reduces the cost of wear and tear on vehicles.

It takes just under one hour to train each driver in simple techniques appropriate to modern vehicles and in the UK using a trainer approved by the Energy Saving Trust means that the training costs are subsidised, reducing the cost of the training by £25 per driver.

Additional benefits of Ecodriving training include a reduced risk of drivers being involved in collisions and thus lower insurance premiums. The training also reduces stress levels and can count towards the employer’s duty of care to drivers they employ.

Ecodriving tips

Many drivers who passed their tests before the advent of modern motor technology may not have changed their driving style.

Both the AA and the Energy Savings Trust publish tips that include not only driving style but also vehicle maintenance and preparing for a journey.

Routine maintenance that will ensure the vehicle is in the best possible condition includes regular servicing to maintain engine efficiency, using the correct engine oil and checking tyre pressures regularly. Under-inflated tyres create more resistance to rolling and therefore increase fuel consumption.

Before setting out on a journey it is worth checking what is in the car to reduce any unnecessary weight.

Roof racks and boxes add to the weight, and therefore to fuel consumption, and if they are not needed for that particular journey they should be removed from the vehicle.

Planning ahead is another tip, not only so to be familiar with the route but also checking if there are any hold-ups on the route you plan to use. Similarly, combining short trips, such as shopping errands and the school run, will also save on fuel particularly because cold starts also use more fuel.

Electrical loads also increase consumption, so turn off the heated rear windscreen, air conditioning, demister blowers and headlights, when they have done their job or they are not needed.

Finally, investing in driver training to help drivers to know when their technique could be improved by accelerating and decelerating more smoothly, driving in the correct gear and other techniques, can make a noticeable difference to fuel consumption as well as prolonging the life of the vehicle.