The Energy Saving Trust (EST) and AA DriveTech have teamed up to build eco-driving techniques into AA DriveTech’s core driver training courses.
Backed by the Department of Transport, this initiative aims to help up to 6,000 employees who drive for work to become more fuel efficient and safer drivers in the next year.
With average savings of up to 15% on fuel costs, a typical business driver covering 12,000 miles a year could expect to gain annual savings of £200 to £250, says EST.
This means the scheme could create savings of up to £1.5 million for participating organisations.
Research by EST on pilot schemes showed that 99% of drivers found the techniques learned during the training to be useful for their day-to-day driving, with many achieving much higher savings than expected on the day.
The initiative integrates the EST training methods into AA DriveTech’s courses, with each driver completing two laps of a pre-defined road circuit which simulates a full range of common driving scenarios.
Comparative fuel economy figures and average speed figures are recorded for each circuit both before and after the driver receives practical and easy to follow coaching; each driver is given a driver report to show what they’ve achieved on the day.
Andy Wheeler, head of academy within the driving services division of The AA, said: “We’re really excited about partnering with the Energy Saving Trust. We both have in-depth knowledge, built up over many years, of how to coach drivers to achieve tangible and sustainable fuel reduction.
"Together we can achieve our shared aims of increasing driver safety and driving down fuel costs. The carbon emission and air pollution reductions realised through this driver training are addition important benefits."
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