Transport Ministers endorse 2009 MPG Marathon

The new Secretary of State for Transport Lord Adonis and Sadiq Khan, the DfT Minister responsible for environment and climate change, have both endorsed the 2009 ALD Automotive/TOTAL ECO 10 MPG Marathon in Coventry on September 30 and 1st October.

Conservative leader David Cameron has also supported the initiative by sending a message wishing participants ‘a successful event for what is a hugely important cause.’

Both Ministers have sent letters of support for the ultimate two-day driving experiment, now in its 7th year, which is set to prove that motorists can save hundreds of pounds per year on their fuel bills irrespective of volatile pump prices.

The Ministers have embraced the objectives of the event which, for the first time, is also focusing upon safer driving for business.

Lord Adonis, a keen cyclist, who took up his post in the recent Cabinet re-shuffle and had been invited to take part in the 380 mile round trip, said: “I am only too sorry that I cannot attend and take part in person, however, I do hope that it proves to be a success.”

Sadiq Khan, who looks after communities, environment and climate change at the Department for Transport, adds: “Events like this are great in demonstrating how easy it is to reduce fuel consumption, costs and emissions by making a few simple changes to your driving style. Everybody can reduce their emissions and driving costs by taking on board the driving tips on the Act on CO2 website and taking a smarter driving lesson. I wish all the drivers and their teams a successful marathon.”

The event, which is supported by Act on CO2 and the Energy Saving Trust, will take place over two days. The first day will see the 40 drivers test their driving skills from Brandon Hall, between Coventry and Rugby, on a circuit back to Coventry via Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, a total distance of 180 miles. On day two, the drivers venture out from Brandon Hall to Shropshire before returning via Worcestershire and Warwick, a total of 200 miles.

For the first time the message of safer, as well as smarter driving is being promoted. RoadSafe, the UK’s leading Forum for promoting road safety and reducing deaths and injuries on the roads is joining forces with the 2009 MPG Marathon team to promote the Safer Driving for Better Business message.

Adrian Walsh, director of RoadSafe, the sponsors of the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards, says: “Smarter driving by definition is safer driving because it is taking care of the road ahead and being more aware of speed, other road users and pedestrians. There are approximately three million company car drivers on the road and an untold number in the grey fleet, those who use their own vehicles for business purposes. Many spend a disproportionate amount of time of the road compared to other drivers and our clear message is: ‘while you are saving fuel, you can also improve safety.”

As well as ‘smarter’ driver training techniques, the MPG Marathon will showcase a number of fuel and carbon saving technologies that are being ‘guinea-pigged.’

Also a first is the use of Lysanda’s Eco Log on every vehicle. This is an on-board software device that provides fleet managers with accurate data on vehicle fuel consumption and carbon emissions and identifies areas of improvement in fleet efficiency, including the measurement of how much fuel is being used or wasted, and why.

“There are some interesting technologies being trialled this year, but overall it is all about changing behaviour behind the wheel and driving in an eco-friendly, smarter and safer way,” says event organiser Ross Durkin.

“We are delighted with the Minister’s comments which underline our on-going commitment to cut costs, emissions and deaths on the road,” he adds.

“To put this in pound note terms, a driver covering 12,000 miles a year and averaging 30mpg at £0.95 per litre (£4.32 a gallon) would see his/her fuel bill reduced from £1,728 to £1,440 by employing smarter techniques and improving their fuel consumption from 30mpg to 36mpg. There would also be a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions,” he says.

Places are filling up fast, but the MPG Marathon team is still looking for drivers and manufacturers to take part after the run-away success of the 2008 event where eight vehicles managed to secure more than 80 miles per gallon. The overall winner for the best MPG went to the Toyota Yaris driven by Andrew Andersz and Gary Luton, who achieved a staggering 84.66mpg in real-world driving conditions.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06, a vehicle not traditionally associated with a strong mpg return, achieved 30.96mpg under the stewardship of Richard Hammond and Carla McAlpine, who squeezed a 61.26 per cent improvement over the manufacturer’s combined cycle fuel consumption figure, out of this so-called ‘gas guzzler.’

There will also be an opportunity for all drivers to undertake Eco or ‘smarter’ driving training in advance in order to maximise the MPG over the two-day event, and by example, encourage Britain’s 30 million motorists to do the same.

David Yates, marketing director for ALD Automotive says: “We are in the middle of a terrible recession so the message for business is about saving money and lives when on the road. The MPG Marathon continues to tick all of those boxes. Businesses can save a small fortune across a large fleet if they adopt better driving practices and they avoid the possibility of being on the wrong side of the new corporate manslaughter regulations that were introduced in April. Driver behaviour is determined by the culture of the businesses they work for so this exercise will demonstrate that businesses can be safe and save money at the same time.”

Gemma Shepherdson, Brand Manager, TOTAL UK Ltd, says: “The MPG Marathon showcases how clever driving, quality vehicles and advanced fuels and lubricants can make a big impact on fuel economy. The success of last year’s event shows that people are more conscious of driving efficiently and the way it affects fuel consumption and the environment.

“The move away from the traditional longer distances between two UK landmark destinations to two circuits of England’s ninth largest city reflects the economic situation and the need to deliver greater value for money,” adds Ross Durkin.

For further information, visit the official website mpgmarathon.com