Bad drivers could cost a fleet hundreds of euros a year in fuel
Bad drivers could cost fleet hundreds of euros a year in fuel
New research by a UK company Direct Line has revealed that bad drivers spend an average of £560 (€660)more on fuel a year due to bad driving habits of excessive braking and acceleration.The study was based on about 319,000 journeys by almost 2,000 drivers and the final analysis found that drivers with a smooth driving style achieved far more mileage each year. On average, each filling station visit was cut from 20 down to 12 visits per year which have the result of reducing the annual fuel bill by up to 40%.
Not only will smoother driving reduce costs over the year, it will also lead to fewer accidents on the road as a result of less erratic driving habits.
Bad driving habits can have a huge effect on fuel consumption but it also accelerates wear and tear on the vehicle, which in turn, affects the overall running costs.
What this means is that fleet managers can significantly reduce their annual fuel bill by helping their drivers see the need for better driving.
Therefore, ongoing driver assessment and training are essential in minimising the fleets overheads not to mention less hassle and inconvenience resulting from accidents due to erratic driving behaviour.
It is also important for fleet managers to assess their driver's attitude and aptitude to identify areas where risk can be minimised and even a saving made.
The intervention will definitely save in the long run and any expenses associated with running a driver training programme will definitely pay off.
Author
Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader
in automotive intelligence and vehicle
data supply to the entire motor industry.
He has almost 20 years experience in
building systems from the ground up.
As the Managing Director of Vehicle
Management System, he understands the
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