绿色驾驶行为识别方案
The most significant direct influence Amey has on emissions, results from our burning of fuel in vehicles. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, Amey’s Highways accounts have been working towards improving fuel efficiency across their fleet, simply through changing driver behaviour. Through a combination of training, monitoring, reward and communication our operational personnel have contributed to a steadily improving MPG trend on the relevant accounts.
What did we do?
Training
Step one involved giving our staff the knowledge to help encourage awareness of the small changes they could make to their driving style and the skills to deliver the improvements.
Participating Accounts undertook and analysis of total mileage covered by drivers to understand where the most significant benefits could be earned. Also taking into account fuel consumption by vehicle type, 117 drivers were selected to undertake the training.
The Training was part of a scheme funded by the Energy Saving Trust, offering subsidised “Fuel Good Driver Training” through a set of approved suppliers. In this case, the training was provided for free. Each driver took part in two twenty-minute sessions with a qualified instructor. On the first session trainees were asked to drive round a pre-determined route involving a variety of driving environments. At the end of the session the instructor recorded figures for MPG, distance covered, time taken, and average speed. Prior to the second session, based on observations from the first, the instructor offered some advice on steps to take to improve efficiency. Once on the road, the instructor then provided further coaching to trainees will making their way round the same route as before.
Monitoring
Masternaut is our fleet telematics system and is fitted to a significant number of our operational vehicles. Linked to each individual vehicle’s on-board computer, it records performance data across numerous parameters, including MPG, Harsh braking, acceleration and cornering, Speeding, Location, Mileage, Idling.
Amey’s system also includes an in-cab coach, where the interface within the vehicle will light up and emit a noise when poor driving practices are detected. All of this information is unique to each individual driver, facilitated through the use of a fob system. The recorded data is provided in an online portal for review. Detailed reports can be created to help with the analysis of specific combinations of data, and an Eco Driving Report already exists. A modified version of this formed the basis of the rewards scheme in Scotland.
What impact did it have?
The immediate impact of the training, realised a driver MPG improvement of 12%, with little or no impact on journey time or average speed.
In addition to the training we established a ‘Green Driver Award’, issued quarterly by each participating account, on the basis of the following simple rules:
- Lowest score per mile (excluding speeding) wins
- Drivers must have completed at least 5 hours of driving/idling over the course of the assessment period
- Drivers must have covered a “reasonable” number of miles - if they have not, this may indicate an issue with the system.
- Employees cannot win more than twice in one 12-month period and may not win two STARS in a row.
- If driver is not using the correct fob, or cannot be easily identified, they will forfeit the prize.
The award itself consists of an Amey Star and is well-publicised among staff to ensure awareness of the scheme and encourage positive behavioural change.
Over the coming years, the Green Driver Awards scheme will be developed as part of a wider strategy to positively influence the way Amey employees travel around. As part of this, travel surveys have already been undertaken across Scottish Highways accounts, and an initial draft travel plan produced. On the basis of this work, our Amey Public Services account has already secured funding to install improved cycling infrastructure at two depots. Through the combination of increasing the proportion of ULEV vehicles in Amey fleets, reducing the need to travel for and to work, as well as encouraging and enabling our employees to make more sustainable travel choices, we will begin to have a quantifiable positive impact on our contribution to climate change.