Reaping the rewards of a light right foot

The Safe And Efficient Driving (SAFED) for Vans programme has been remarkably successful.

Analysis from the programme’s co-ordinating agency has shown that, following training, drivers are achieving MPG improvements of around 22%, gear change reductions of 33% and driving fault improvements of 62%. The statistical analysis also revealed what all defensive driver trainers know to be true – adopting improved concentration, observation and anticipation techniques can actually reduce journey times too.

To date the total amount of money that could be saved annually by those trained is approximately £2.3 million on fuel alone, and is the equivalent of £560 per driver per year. There are additional savings to be had too, from less bent metal, fewer lost days through crashes being avoided and reductions in vehicle maintenance.

Although the training cost subsidy, offered by the DfT to kick-start a change in culture amongst the van community, came to an end on March 31st, Drive & Survive will continue to offer a very similar course on a commercial basis, in response to customer demand.

The Drive & Survive product, comprising 100% practical, in-vehicle training, will cost just £160.00 per head. “If a hypothetical van in the normal course of its work was completing journeys totalling 200 miles per day at an average fuel consumption of 40 mpg,” suggests Mark Edwards, Drive & Survive’s Training Manager, “the cost of the course would be repaid in full in fuel savings alone in just NINE weeks. That‘s a remarkable return on investment by anybody‘s standards.”

Drive & Survive’s van fuel economy course can be delivered on a half-day one to one basis or a full day two to one basis, depending upon customer preferences. The driver’s usual vehicle is used and all courses are delivered from the place of work.

More information about the company’s wide range of products, services and money-saving activities for its many clients can be obtained from drivesurvive.co.uk.