With the unpredictability of petrol prices, most businesses have found their fuel bills rising. In this climate, and with the effect of transport on the environment under constant scrutiny, IAM Drive & Survive has seen an increase in demand for its fuel-saving and greener driving training course, ecolution.

Chauffeurs completing the IAM Drive & Survive course have reported significant savings to their fuel bills, with one delegate achieving a 55.2 per cent increase in their mpg (miles per gallon).

Commercial Group, one of the largest office suppliers in the UK and a user of ecolution training since 2009, has seen an improvement in mpg for all of their drivers. Commercial Group is a substantial fleet operator with over 84 per cent of its baseline carbon footprint being attributed to its fleet of vehicles.

The company expected a 15 per cent improvement from providing environmentally responsible driver training but using ecolution enabled the drivers to exceed this, with drivers seeing improvements ranging from 20 per cent to 40 per cent over the six months after training. For an average driver, this equates to a cost saving of over £750 and a 2.2 tonne reduction of CO2 each year.

“Our drivers said they were amazed at how much fuel could be saved by changing a few basic ways of driving,” said Simon Graham, Environmental Strategist for Commercial Group.

“As over 84 per cent of our baseline carbon footprint was from our fleet vehicles, the way that our people drive is very important to our environmental programme. ecolution has had a significant impact on our overall carbon reduction programme, helping to slash our carbon footprint, save us money and provide a better service to our customers. ecolution has helped us achieve a 75 per cent reduction in the carbon footprint of that fleet.”

Simon Elstow, Head of Training at IAM Drive & Survive said: “Greener driving is top of the agenda so it’s not surprising we’re increasingly being approached by companies who are serious about reducing their carbon footprint and making cost savings. I often hear from customers how delighted they are with the results as well as just how simple the eco techniques are to pick up and apply.”

ecolution has helped Commercial Group achieve the Green Business Award for Carbon Emissions Achievement and Ambition in 2009 and the European Office Products Award for Environmental Sustainability in 2010.

Driving tips given within the courses also help delegates become safer drivers. IAM Drive & Survive’s fuel saving tips include:

* Keep your vehicle moving as long as you can, even in traffic queues. This saves fuel because you’re not stop-starting and it is safer: the less often you are stationary, the less likely you are to be hit from behind
* Plan ahead to avoid the need for heavy braking. This improves fuel economy, keeps you moving and makes you a safer driver because you are more likely to anticipate hazards
* Check your vehicle regularly to ensure it operates efficiently. In particular check your tyres – their inflation has a big impact on fuel economy. This also means you’re less likely to break-down in a vulnerable place
* Remove unnecessary weight, including roof racks, car clutter and unnecessary heavy items in the boot. Excess weight reduces fuel economy, and reducing clutter ensures you stay focused and prevents anything loose in the car getting lodged under your pedals
* Use air conditioning and climate control sparingly as they significantly increase fuel consumption. Don’t forget though that air-conditioning can help demist your windows in the colder months
* Experiment changing your gears up earlier, for petrol engines 2,500 rpm (revs per minute) and diesel engines 2,000 rpm. Many drivers find that this gives their driving a much needed focus, leading to safer driving