26 | Aycliffe Today Business
The Local Motion driving
simulator turned up at Evans
Incubation Centre.
FUEL-EFFICIENT DRIVING
CAN SAVE YOU MONEY
Residents at Evans
Incubation Centre were
given a free insight into
fuel-efficient driving when
Local Motion turned up
with a huge simulator.
Funded by the Department for Transport’s
Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) and
supported by Durham County Council and
Darlington Borough Council, Local Motion
provides a package of measures to encourage
schools, communities and companies to
consider using sustainable transport.
But they accept that sustainable modes of travel
doesn’t fit in with the demands of companies
who rely on cars to run their business.
So they’ve set up two driver training
programmes to educate drivers about how to
get the most of out fuel, which will ultimately
save firms cash.
Working in partnership with Local Motion,
Durham County Council’s Road Safety Team are
delivering the fully-funded fuel efficient driver
training courses to companies who have car
or light van drivers in the Aycliffe, Shildon and
Bishop Auckland areas.
Local Motion is already working with the likes of
Husqvarna, PWS and Ineos.
Tony Flory, Driver Training Services Officer from
Durham County Council’s Road Safety Team,
said: “We trained a total of 62 drivers from a
company in Newton Aycliffe, results from the
course showed a 27% improvement in fuel
efficiency.
”
The results meant the company could
potentially:
aware of driving in a way which would be less
heavy on fuel.
• Save £63,000 in fuel bills
“And I really enjoyed it!”
• Reduce their carbon emissions by 116 tonnes
There are two courses available, a Safe and Fuel
Efficient Driver (SAFED) Training Course and an
Eco-Business Driving Course.
• Lower their company driving risk by 88%
• Gain 12 miles more per gallon of fuel
• Achieve 38% less wear and tear on vehicles
• Were 4mph quicker on their journey times”
Tony added: “Six months after training, the
company revealed that their drivers were taking
more pride in driving, there had been no blame
incidents or lost production due to road traffic
incidents, and their insurance company agreed
to keep their premiums static.
“These short-term results will not only create
significant savings for the company in the
long-term but create substantial benefits for
the drivers, the local community and the wider
sustainability effort.
”
The team recently took their driving simulator
to Evans Incubation Centre to give business
drivers the opportunity to experience how
making small changes to their driving style can
have a huge impact on fuel efficiency.
The simulator includes an eco-driving exercise
which monitors a driver’s ability to drive
smoothly, under varying road and traffic
conditions.
It then generates a score for each driver which
indicates the likelihood of fuel efficiency and
carbon savings and gives feedback on key
elements of their driving style.
And Brian Ryan, Senior Engineer for SMK based
at Evans, enjoyed his taster session.
“It was fascinating, he said. “You always think
”
you’re a good driver but the simulator opens
your eyes to certain things and makes you more
• The Safe and Fuel Efficient Driver (SAFED)
Training course is a full day’s training course
with two drivers and one trainer.
• The Eco-Business Driver course is a two hour
course with one driver and one trainer.
Tony said “We make it as easy as possible for
companies to get involved in the training.
“Training dates are arranged at the convenience
of the companies taking part and our highly
qualified trainers visit the workplaces to carry
out the training in the company vehicles.
“The trainers also plan the routes and at the
end of the course each driver will receive a
certificate of completion along with a summary
report showing each drivers miles per gallon
over identical routes.
”
Road Safety GB North East recently revealed
that between 2001 and 2012, 7
,778 people were
involved in collisions in the region while they
were on a journey for work.
During that period, there were 6,402 collisions
involving business travel, which resulted in the
death of 74 drivers and riders, the serious injury
of 748 people and the slight injury of 8,262. The
figures do not include drivers of public service
vehicles.
Businesses interested in the free fuel
efficient driver training, or would like
the driving simulator to come to your
workplace, can call Tony Flory, Driver Training
Services Officer on 0