Independent traders could save more than £500 a year at the pumps with some changes to their driving techniques

• If just one van driver adopted ‘eco-driving’, they would save more than £500 a year on fuel and tyres
• For large fleets of drivers, the savings could run into the hundreds of thousands
• Drivers could also cut their CO2 emissions by up to 14%, the equivalent produced driving a lap of Britain's coast
• If just one van driver adopted ‘eco-driving’, they would save more than £500 year on fuel and tyres
• For large fleets of drivers, the savings could run into the hundreds of thousands
• Drivers could also cut their CO2 emissions by up to 14%, the equivalent produced driving a lap of Britain's coast

The average independent trader using a van is losing hundreds of pounds on fuel costs and replacing tyres more quickly than they need to while also pumping out unnecessary CO2 emissions due to their driving style. This includes behaviour such as excessive speed, accelerating sharply, and braking suddenly, all of which puts extra strain on the engine, tyres and brake pads, as well as leading to more fuel consumption.

The research was collated through data from 4,500 participants in road safety charity IAM RoadSmart’s ‘Driving for Work’ training courses.i If just one van driver was to adopt ‘eco-driving’, a driving style focused on maximising fuel efficiency and minimising environmental impact, they would save £539 a year in fuel alone, spend up to £144 less on new tyres, and emit 0.69 fewer tonnes of CO2, almost equivalent to driving a lap of Britain’s coast.ii

‘Eco-driving’ involves accelerating smoothly, maintaining steady speeds, refraining from braking sharply, and changing gear efficiently. Separate research from IAM RoadSmart revealed that the unbranded white van drivers (the so-called ‘white van man’) are perceived to be most likely to show aggressive behaviour such as tailgating, undertaking and gesticulating, compared to other road users.iii

Out of more than 2,000 IAM RoadSmart motorists that were surveyed, half said they thought ‘white van drivers’ were the most aggressive, followed closely by drivers of SUVs. Almost half believe that white van drivers were most likely to disobey road signs, park inconsiderately, or ignore traffic lights.

The findings have prompted calls for independent traders, fleet drivers and businesses operating fleets to consider a ‘Driving for Work’ course, which teaches ‘eco-driving’ which can hugely benefit driving style and cost efficiencies. Work journeys account for nearly one in three deaths on UK roads iv In addition, company drivers rack up an estimated 1.3 million penalties a year, costing almost £100m.v

IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: “The findings from the data indicate that UK motorists feel that some van drivers can be quite aggressive, adopting dangerous and intimidating techniques like tailgating.

"While it’s understandable that some traders or couriers will spend lengthy periods of the day on the road leading to inevitable frustrations, this can lead to unsafe driving and increased costs. When the statistics show that work journeys account for nearly one in three deaths on UK roads, it is unsurprising that driving for work is one of the most dangerous activities workers can do.

“Driving aggressively is one of the most pointless things someone can do. It’s dangerous, stresses out the person doing it, angers other road users, costs you more money and will not get you where you want be any more quickly. In a nutshell, you are burning money, creating more emissions and risking a crash for absolutely no benefit.

“The data from our Driving for Work course shows that those companies not taking fleet training seriously are essentially pouring money down the drain by letting negative driver behaviours go unaddressed. By investing in driving efficiency training, businesses can take impactful steps towards eliminating poor driver habits and begin unlocking the big savings that come in doing so. They’ll also be helping to keep their colleagues safer on the road.

“For independent traders it will help dispel the perception that many have that they are more aggressive than other road users, ridding themselves of the ‘white van man’ stereotype.”

On-road training courses offer the most direct route to improved driver safety, helping employees to develop safer behaviours while bringing direct financial benefits to businesses also.

By supporting drivers in developing a calmer, more efficient driving style, companies can benefit from reduced incidence of collisions and associated downtime, improved fuel economy, and less wear and tear on vehicles. Moreover, those driving for work may benefit from calmer and a less stressful driving.

For further information on IAM RoadSmart’s Driving for Work course, please visit: https://www.iamcommercial.co.uk/driving-for-work/

ENDS

Notes to editors

For interviews, contact the IAM RoadSmart press office on press.office@iam.org.uk / 020 8996 9777

About IAM RoadSmart

IAM RoadSmart is the UK’s largest road safety charity providing advanced driver and rider training. It has a vision of a society where all road users can safely use the public highways together.

IAM RoadSmart was formed in March 1956 and has around 70,000 members and 5,000 volunteers that support its campaigns on road safety. At any one time there are more than 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses.

The charity also delivers courses in the workplace. To find out more about how IAM RoadSmart can help with fleet and work training visit www.iamcommercial.co.uk

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart go to: www.iamroadsmart.com

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