Leicester

Green Light for better bus driving

GREEN LIGHT FOR BETTER BUS DRIVING
UKs biggest bus operator announces installation of revolutionary GPS technology


FIRST, the UKs largest bus operator is today (Tuesday) announcing the installation of groundbreaking new technology across its entire UK fleet of 9,000 buses that will help improve driving styles and reduce the carbon footprint of its buses.

The move follows a successful trial of ‘DriveGreen in 1,000 buses in London, Bradford and Glasgow. In these cities, buses have been fitted with the latest GPS technology which acts like a giant electronic gyroscope. This can detect dozens of driving movements per minute and immediately reports back to the driver how well they are driving.

The equipment picks up on acceleration and braking patterns as well as corner, lane and speed handling. A ‘traffic light LED monitor on vehicle dashboards flashes green if the driver is driving correctly, or amber or red if a bus driver carries out an unwanted driving manoeuvre such as heavy braking or unnecessary acceleration.

The driver can then make immediate changes to their driving to ensure buses travel more efficiently to produce fewer CO2 emissions as well as more travelling more smoothly, improving the journey experience for passengers.

On returning to bus depots - or even their own homes - drivers can then view the overall quality of their drive on a dedicated website and compare it to the average for the depot. A score is allocated to each driving session, therefore allowing them the opportunity to monitor constantly, and then improve, their own driving.

Trials of DriveGreen began in March 2009 in bus depots in London, Bradford and Glasgow. Since then, First has seen a 70% decrease in the number of unnecessary driving manoeuvres carried out by drivers. This in turn has led to a significant decrease in the levels of CO² produced by buses. Each driver will use around 500 litres less fuel per year which equates to 1.2 tonnes less CO².

First now plans to rollout the technology across its entire fleet of 9,000 buses in the UK by the middle of 2010 " a move which should see environmental benefits from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Norwich to Swansea. Within three years it is estimated that First buses will produce 130,000 less tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of removing 24,000 cars off the roads (source EPA*). This will help the firm achieve its climate change target to reduce CO2 emission levels in its entire UK Bus fleet by 25% by 2020 (on 2006 levels).

Maurice Bulmer, Managing Director, First Midlands, said: "This is a significant step in our efforts to improve the comfort and safety of our bus services as well as making a real environmental difference to the world that we, and future generations, will live in.

"The great thing about this project is that our drivers are the ones who can make a significant difference and they are real ‘green champions. By using DriveGreen to change their driving habits " even just in a small way " then the gains in terms of environmental efficiency are huge, as well as in areas such as the cost of fuel to the business, which means we can keep bus fares down, and the safety and comfort of our passengers.

"This really empowers drivers to identify potential to improve their own driving style and play their part in helping to protect the environment for themselves and their children.

"And to encourage drivers to use DriveGreen to help improve their driving style, weekly financial rewards will be awarded to the best and the most improved drivers in our company, achieving and maintaining the highest standards of driving for the benefit of the environment and our passengers.'

Jimmy Burroughs, T&GWU Secretary of the National Committee, said: "This will improve the working environment of the drivers. Any system that is put in place that helps a driver to self-assess and improve is a benefit.'

The technology used is provided by GreenRoad, a US based company that originally was based in Israel and used the technology to help train young Israeli car drivers to drive more safely after requests by parents.



NOTES TO EDITORS:
• For more information about DriveGreen contact Duncan McGraw, PR Manager, First UK Bus (North of England) on 07889 095726 or email: Duncan.mcgraw@firstgroup.com. For more information about First in Hampshire & Dorset contact Karen Baxter, PR Manager, First UK Bus (South West & Wales) on 0117 373 6470 / email: Karen.baxter@firstgroup.com
• Still pictures and broadcast footage of the technology are available upon request.
• *The US Environmental Agency (EPA) hosts a carbon equivalent calculator. This can be found at. http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-resources/calculator.html.
• First Midlands operates a comprehensive network of local bus services in Leicester and Northampton, together with a mix of urban, inter-urban and rural services in its Midlands West area. It also operates public and school contracts on behalf of local authorities and a Yellow School bus contract for Northampton School for Girls. First Midlands operates approx 350 vehicles and employs approx.1000 people. For more information log onto www.FirstGroup.com/ukbus to view the Leicester, Northampton and Midland West websites.
FirstGroup plc
• FirstGroup plc is the leading transport operator in the UK and North America with annualised revenues of over £6 billion a year. We employ approximately 136,000 staff and transport some 2.5 billion passengers a year.
UK Bus
• The Group is Britains largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services. A fleet of nearly 9,000 buses carries approximately 3 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities.
UK Rail
• The Group operates one quarter of the UK passenger rail network, with a balanced portfolio of intercity, commuter and regional services, carrying some 285 million passengers per annum.
• The Group is the UKs largest rail operator with four passenger franchises - First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First ScotRail and First TransPennine Express - and one open access operator, Hull Trains.
• The Group operates rail freight services through First GBRf and operates the Croydon Tramlink network on behalf of Transport for London carrying nearly 28 million passengers a year.
North America
• In North America the Group has four operating divisions: Yellow School Buses (First Student), Transit Contracting and Management Services (First Transit), Vehicle Fleet Maintenance and Support Services (First Services) and intercity coach services (Greyhound). Headquartered in Cincinnati, FirstGroup America Inc. operates across the US and Canada.
Europe
• In mainland Europe we operate some 150 buses in south west Germany and, with our partner DSB, we operate the Øresund rail franchise which includes routes in and between Denmark and Sweden.
GreenRoad
• With funding from Benchmark Capital and Balderton Capital (formerly Benchmark Europe), GreenRoad has its headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices in the US and in Israel, where the company was founded in 2002. GreenRoad has been operating under the name of DriveDiagnostics while in the testing phase, and has been testing its Safety Centre solution for more than two years with pilot customers in the US, UK and Israel.
• The GreenRoad solution comprises real time in-cab driver behaviour feedback (using simple traffic light LEDs), individuals performance feedback for drivers to use to self correct (viewed on line through their own web account) and automated risk assessment for managers to use to focus training and coaching and if necessary discipline.
• GreenRoad provides the solution as a managed system supporting implementation with a professional communications, training and coaching package along with behavioural change strategies. They own the on-vehicle units and control the data, account details and software including upgrades.