?The Government-funded SaFED (Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving) van driver training programme claims to have recorded average fuel economy improvements of 16% and has drivers making a 33% fewer gear changes than they were before undertaking the single-day course.
The programme has analysed the results of nearly 8000 drivers, and the average mpg benefits equate to £3.3m a year, or £425 a driver.
Construction and engineering firms have made up almost a third of those companies taking advantage of the training, with 700 organisations putting an average 11 drivers each through the scheme.
Though the average fuel economy improvement was 15.7%, public sector drivers averaged 19.9%.
