Driving green saves fuel and environment

Associate Professor Geoff Rose takes a driver from Blue Circle through the eco driving techniques.

A Monash pilot study has found "eco driving", a technique that emphasises smoother driving behaviour, has the potential to dramatically cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions in heavy vehicles, and that the lessons can be adopted by all motorists.

The study found drivers of fully-laden 68 tonne B-double trucks reduced their fuel consumption by 27 per cent simply by anticipating traffic flow, skipping gears, changing gears at lower engine revolutions, and braking less forcefully and often.

The 12-week study, conducted at Blue Circle Southern Cement in Victoria, also found eco driving saved wear and tear on vehicles and didn't add to travel times.

Associate Professor Geoff Rose from the Department of Civil Engineering and Dr Mark Symmons from the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences assessed the eco driving training course.

"Australia's road transport system produces about 80 million tonnes of greenhouse gas each year with light commercial vehicles and trucks responsible for 38 per cent of those emissions," Associate Professor Rose said.

"The fuel savings and lower maintenance costs gained through eco driving translate into significant savings for the industry and the environment."

Blue Circle Southern Cement Victorian Distribution Manager Ian Duncan said the results had encouraged the company to train its entire staff in eco driving.

"Blue Circle uses approximately 1.5 million litres of diesel fuel a year -- a significant proportion of our operating costs," Mr Duncan said.

"Even a one per cent reduction in fuel consumption would save about $15,000 per annum for the company and reduce our CO2 emissions by about 40 tonnes."

Wayne Striplin, who designs eco driver training programs, said the techniques were not limited to heavy vehicles and the transport industry.

"With 11 million cars on our roads, unstable oil prices and Australia's carbon emission reduction targets, eco driving is something we can all adopt to save money, the environment and reduce stress," Mr Striplin said.