AN industry-wide approach to air pollution should be adopted by the Government rather than concentrating efforts on the car and fleet drivers, a seminar on driver efficiency heard. Only 23% of carbon dioxide, largely blamed for global warming, is produced by transport, fleet managers were told at the Driver Driven Efficiency seminar. The rest comes from the domestic sector and industry.

Diana Montgomery, environmental affairs manager for the AA, said at the event, organised by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the AA: 'The Government has got to look at all sectors of industry. Transport is a favourite focus of attention, but there are many misconceptions about it. We are led to believe that as an industry we can really affect the environment and it would be better for us all to stay at home. But remember, we are not the major contributors to carbon dioxide.'

Catalysts now remove 90% of pollutants when hot and emissions standards have led to improved engine performance, she said. But, Montgomery added, even though new cars used by fleets are among the cleanest, a lot could still be done to combat vehicle pollution. Fleet managers could see real cash benefits from encouraging greener driving among car users, she said. A pool of 100 medium-sized cars covering 12,000 business miles a year would save £5,000 annually if average miles per gallon achieved by drivers went from 33 to 35, the meeting heard.