Ecodriving equivalent to taking three million cars off the road (UK)

A carbon saving equivalent to taking three million cars off the road could be achieved by simply encouraging drivers to shift gear and adopt a more environmentally-aware approach to driving, a new study revealed today.

Despite the potential cash and carbon savings, drivers still lack awareness of environmentally-friendly driving practices, called ecodriving, according to a report by Forum for the Future and commissioned by Royal Mail.

The report, Fuelling Green Driving, reveals that there is still a long way to go to encourage consumers and employers to embrace ecodriving as nearly half the population (43 per cent) don’t know what it is. Furthermore, 32 per cent of people surveyed said they have heard of it, but have never even been tempted to try it.

Recognising the benefits, Royal Mail has launched a company wide awareness programme to help its 180,000 people switch to greener driving, whether for social or work driving. And almost 1,000 Royal Mail drivers have received in-depth classroom training to help them adopt more environmentally-friendly motoring practices with plans to train a further 2,000 in the coming months.

The report highlights that only one per cent of the population has received ecodriving training from an instructor. Moreover, a lack of information is a major barrier to ecodriving as 59 per cent of people require more information about the steps they need to take to encourage them to drive in an environmentally-friendly way. This was particularly prevalent among women where this figure rose to 72 per cent.

The Forum for the Future report also makes a number of recommendations for ministers, employers and car manufacturers including:
• Serious investment in a high-impact advertising campaign to change attitudes towards driving among both fleet and private drivers
• Short duration ecodriving lessons
• Specialist training for van drivers
• Forecourt advertising campaigns spearheaded by fuel companies in accordance with their obligations under the Energy Services Directive
• A change in the way fuel is bought by company drivers to realign incentives in favour of a more fuel efficient approach to driving
• Prominence in the modified driving test to ensure drivers learn and remember green driving techniques
• Technical developments to encourage drivers to drive more efficiently. New technologies that could be adopted include, shift-gear and tyre pressure indicators, onboard computers and speed-limiters
• Greater consistency between ecodriving advocates to help ensure credibility

Paul Tolhurst, Network Director at Royal Mail, said: "This research shows that green driving could make considerable savings to the UK’s CO2 emissions despite being relatively simple and inexpensive.

"All of Royal Mail’s 180,000 staff will receive advice and tips which will help them switch to greener motoring. The training is intended to help our people drive in a more environmentally friendly way, both at work and at home."

Royal Mail’s awareness programme for its people includes the following top tips:
o Smoother driving (avoiding harsh acceleration and heavy braking)
o Defensive driving (anticipation of road conditions and other users)
o Not over-revving the engine
o Appropriate speed selection (you could be using up to 30% more fuel at 70mph than at 50mph)
o Appropriate gear selection (a vehicle travelling at 37mph in 3rd gear uses 25 per cent more fuel than it would at the same speed in 5th gear)
o Not leaving the engine running when stationary (if stationary for more than 2 minutes switch off)
o Driving gently away as soon as possible once you have started the engine from cold (it warms up more quickly, reducing consumption, emissions and engine wear)

Bob Saynor, author of the report on behalf of Forum for the Future, said: "The Government, car manufacturers and employers need to act now to tackle rising transport emissions in the UK.

"Much work has already been done. But it is clear that there is a long way to go to educate the public and business about ecodriving and greater investment is now needed to make sure people adopt green driving techniques."

He added: "Businesses that employ a large number of people and have big fleets like Royal Mail must also lead the way in driving this change and should encourage staff to drive in an environmentally friendly way."

The Forum for the Future report is available at www.royalmailgroup.com/fuellinggreendriving

The report cites long term studies that have demonstrated a seven per cent cut in emissions from eco-driving, which by category of vehicle, equates to the following reduction in emissions:
• Passenger cars – 4.9 million tonnes of CO2
• Light duty vehicles – 1.8 million tonnes of CO2
• Buses and coaches – 0.25 million tonnes of CO2
• Heavy goods vehicles – 2.0 million tonnes of CO2

The overall impact would be equivalent to taking over three million cars off the road. With motorists typically spending £1,300 a year (and rising) on fuel, the average 7 per cent gain in fuel efficiency from ecodriving will yield cash savings of over £90 a year, and an achievable 10 per cent efficiency gain will save £130 or more.

Ends

Issued by Blue Rubicon on behalf of Royal Mail.

For further information and to set up interviews, please call Jenny Holt on 020 7260 2700.

Notes to editors:
• Nearly one in ten men (8 per cent) believes that eco driving makes them too slow. This was versus 4 per cent of women who believes it makes them too slow
• Nearly a fifth of motorists (18 per cent) said that they didn’t take undertake ecodriving because they didn’t know how. This figure was greater for women, where the figure rose to almost a quarter (24 per cent)
• Drivers are still sceptical about whether ecodriving really makes a difference. This is also reflected in the fact that nearly one in ten (seven per cent) of men simply said they don’t care about driving in an environmentally-friendly way

About Forum for the Future

Forum for the Future – the sustainable development charity – works in partnership with leading organisations in business and the public sector. Our vision is of business and communities thriving in a future that is environmentally sustainable and socially just. We believe that a sustainable future can be achieved, that it is the only way business and communities will prosper, but that we need bold action now to make it happen. We play our part by inspiring and challenging organisations with positive visions of a sustainable future; finding innovative, practical ways to help realise those visions; training leaders to bring about change; and sharing success through our communications. Royal Mail is a partner of Forum for the Future. For more information visit www.forumforthefuture.