Van drivers will soon benefit from a new advanced driving scheme launched by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling today.
The £1.3m Safe and Fuel Efficient Drivers (SaFED) Scheme aims to encourage safer, cleaner and cheaper driving. It will fund 200 instructors to offer training initially to 3,500 van drivers across the country.
The new scheme follows a successful pilot project that found significant financial and environmental gains could be made by using advanced driving techniques without any noticeable impact on delivery times. Benefits for a typical driver doing 20,000 miles a year could include:
* savings of up to £500 of diesel per vehicle;
* over a 1/4 tonne reduction in carbon emissions;
* reduction of fuel consumption by around 10% per vehicle;
* 59% fewer gear changes;
* fewer accidents, lower insurance premiums, lower running costs and higher resale value of vehicles.
The optional one day course involves a mix of classroom and on-the-road tuition and teaches the use of driving techniques such as better use of gears (avoiding over-revving and missing out unnecessary gear changes), keeping correct braking distances (not braking hard), fuel economy and better road awareness (seeing junctions in good time).
Speaking in Nuneaton, Alistair Darling said:
"The white van fleet keeps the British economy moving - playing a vital role in its success.
"Van drivers can play their part in making Britain a greener place. At the same time making a tidy saving.
"The scheme we are launching today makes business sense. As our pilot shows greener, cheaper, safer driving is possible while still getting the product there on time.
"Annual savings of up to £500 per van, over a 1/4 tonne of carbon is a good delivery in anyone's books."
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