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The Safe and Fuel Efficient Drivers (SAFED) scheme aims to encourage driving techniques that save fuel, thereby cutting costs and CO2 emissions. Since its launch, the Department for Transport has invested nearly £2.2 million in the scheme.

The Government said that the training has been "immensely popular" and so far the programme has trained nearly 7,800 drivers. Drivers who completed the training found they achieved an average 16 per cent improvement in miles per gallon, giving a potential annual fuel saving of £3.3 million and CO2 emissions reduction of 9,350 tonnes, equivalent to an average of £425 for each van driver and a reduction for CO2 emissions of around 1.2 tonnes.

Ruth Kelly said: "White van man is turning green. By learning safe, fuel efficient driving techniques, van drivers are playing a vital role in cutting CO2 emissions. They're helping tackle climate change, saving money and improving safety without impacting on customer delivery times."

The new money will part fund training for new instructors, new assessors and up to 6,500 drivers over the next three years.

Role models

The Road Haulage Association, responding to the Commission for Integrated Transport's report, Transport and Climate Change, said that lorry drivers should be role models for motorists in fuel efficient and courteous driving.

"Road haulage drivers are trained professionals in terms of driving techniques. With diesel by far the largest variable cost - the average articulated haulage lorry uses around GBP45,000-worth of fuel a year - fuel efficiency is an integral part of the way they drive," the Association said.

It said that defensive/eco-driving by truck drivers ensures that they:

• Read the road ahead, allowing them to respond to situations as they arise;
• Approach traffic lights, roundabouts, and other junctions in a manner that minimises braking and fuel use;
• Anticipate hazards and what other road users do ahead, to the side and to the rear;
• Select the correct gear for the speed they are doing - they are aware of the "sweet spot" on the engine;
• Maintain tyres at the right pressure - many firms use specialist service providers.

"They do not race up to red lights and junctions applying the brakes at the last moment, accelerate and brake harshly, abuse the speed limits or look only at the road immediately ahead of them," according to the Road Haulage Association.

"Haulage companies have been promoting the principles of good driving for many years and new technology means that they are more able than ever to monitor drivers' performance," says RHA Director of Policy Jack Semple. "We are not claiming that every haulage driver is perfect. But most are very good and the culture of the industry is focused on safety and economy."

"The industry readily integrated the principles of the Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) scheme for lorry drivers launched by the government a number of years ago; and the introduction of new additional training requirements in 2009 will emphasise these issues even more." 

Significant financial and environmental gains 

SAFED is a one-day training course involving a mix of classroom and on-the-road tuition. It teaches drivers how techniques such as better use of gears and brakes (avoiding over-revving and unnecessary gear changes), keeping correct braking distances (not braking hard) and better road awareness (seeing junctions in good time) can improve both fuel efficiency and safety.

Fleet managers and van drivers interested in finding out how SAFED for Vans could benefit their business should visit http://www.safed.org.uk and navigate to the 'find a trainer' page, or call 0870 190 8440.

SAFED was originally launched in 2006. It followed 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.

The extra £1.2 million is available on a first come, first served basis to part-fund trainers, in-house assessors and drivers in SAFED techniques up until 2010. However participants are expected to contribute to the cost of their training on a sliding scale. The scale of charging is on the SAFED website http://www.safed.org.uk/SAFEDVans/home.htm.

Companies that have previously had more than 50 funded drivers will not be eligible for any further funded places and other companies will be limited to 10 funded places.

SAFED for Vans case studies can be found on:
http://www.safed.org.uk/SAFEDVans/caseStudies.htm

A series of case studies and guides have also been published by the DfT funded Freight Best Practice programme:
http://www.freightbestpractice.org.uk/pubsub.aspx?SectionID=2