Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Mike Waters' Blog: 19 May 2009 - Safer driving means cleaner driving
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Mike Waters' Blog: 19 May 2009 - Safer driving means cleaner driving

Date: 19 May 2009

Mike Waters is senior insight & consultancy manager at Arval, the leading vehicle leasing and fleet management company.

Road safety is in the headlines with the Commission for Global Road Safety calling on governments around the world to commit to a road safety 'Decade of Action' in the hope of saving a projected five million lives and preventing 50 million serious injuries.

Most drivers do take road safety seriously and it goes without saying that no one wants to be involved in an accident. However, accidents on our roads happen all the time with the majority of them caused by either driver error or drivers breaking the law. While drink driving and driver distraction remain problem areas one of the biggest killers is speed. With this in mind it is interesting that Transport for London is trialling intelligent vehicles that stop drivers from exceeding the speed limit.

As part of a trial this summer, around 20 vehicles will be fitted with computers programmed to recognise the maximum speed limit on any road. When the vehicle reaches this limit, sophisticated electronics, linked to an onboard map and GPS system, over-ride the driver controls to stop the vehicle from going any faster. The specially equipped fleet, including cars, a bus and a black cab, will be monitored to understand the impact on both road safety and congestion. It is claimed that road casualties in London could be cut by 10% if two-thirds of motorists used the devices.

This initiative is being positioned by Transport for London as something that could save lives but lets not forget that it could also provide significant environmental benefit. At the moment many drivers and fleet managers aren't making this link between driving safer and greener performance. When you look to book onto a driver training course, safety courses and eco courses are generally split, while in reality the two things are not exclusive.

When you think about it, its obvious that if you cut your speeds and drive less aggressively you will not only be safer but also more economical as your cars' fuel consumption will fall; therefore safety training provides a dual benefit. Being sustainable isn't just about driving an efficient car, its about the way you drive it to ensure that it operates to its potential.

If you drive safely you are not only reducing your road risk but also helping to preserve the planet. From a cost point of view you are receiving a double whammy of not only reducing your vehicle running costs but also reducing the need to visit the body shop following an accident.



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