NEWS Newsletter for Approved Driving Instructors
Greener Drivers before Greener Cars Simon Elstow, IAM Drive & Survive Head of Training explains: “Companies no doubt consider green credentials when buying new company cars, but they may not realise how much more efficiently their employees could be driving them. “Simple techniques such as advanced anticipation, intelligent route planning and speed control can increase your fuel economy by 50 per cent, as well as gett ing you from A to B a lot quicker.”
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ith companies beginning to renew their fleets, IAM Drive & Survive calls for fleet managers and business drivers to invest in eco-driver training to improve their efficiency.
DIA Ireland Established
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n association has been established for Approved Driving Instructors. Called DIA Ireland – Driving Instructors Association Ireland to give it its full title, recently held its second meeting in Portlaoise to fi rm up on its constitution and the general structure of the organisation. Other items on the agenda included the formation of a mission statement, logo design and the sett ing up of an official website for both the public and members alike. Discussion was on how the association will operate and aims liaise with the Government, the Road Safety Authority, the Garda Siochana and the media. It is also envisaged that DIA Ireland appoints Regional Officers to liaise with ADI’s locally. One of the proposals was to have one DIA Ireland officer per County with four for Dublin, three for Cork, two for Limerick and two for Galway. Currently the Northern Ireland Driver Instructors Association is assisting with the initial start-up offering advice and administration services. Membership to DIA Ireland is €30.00 More information from Kevin Plunkett at Genesis Driving School – info@genesisdrivingschool.com. 30 FLEETCAR | Summer 2010
“Ecolution, our fuel-saving driver training course, has increased the MPG of one company’s fleet by nearly 30 per cent: a huge saving in terms of fuel bills. Efficient driving also means reduced wear and tear on the car and a better resale value,
and less frequent car replacement which is an eco-burden in itself.” Employers and individuals, mindful of their CSR and environmental responsibilities, are increasingly seeing their car as a catalyst for green change. A forthcoming IAM report Motoring Facts 2010 has found that companies are opting for more fuel efficient vehicles, with twice as many new diesel company cars as private cars being registered every year. Mr. Elstow continued: “While companies are looking into providing greener vehicles for their fleet, we advise them to do the job properly and look at how improving their business drivers’ skills could also save them money and reduce their CO 2 emissions.”
TomTom monitors van safety at the MPG Marathon 2010
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omTom Business Solutions division crowned John Kerswill and Ian McKean as the winners of the Van Safety Award at this year’s MPG Marathon. The duo scooped the award after a near-flawless display of driving over two day, the 400-mile event near Stratfordupon-Avon. Each of this year’s eight MPG Marathon van entries were fitted with the TomTom LINK 300 tracking box which not only provided accurate mileage data but also recorded harsh braking and steering inputs as ‘driver events’. John (driver) and Ian (navigator) drove a Fiat Doblo Cargo and impressively recorded just one minor driving event over the entire two-day’s drive. John and Ian’s smooth and controlled driving style also allowed them to achieve an impressive 58.9mpg, 24.9% above official manufacturer’s f ig ures. T he award, endorsed by Roadsafe and Britian’s Department for Tra nspor t ’s Van Best Practice initiative, sought to recognise both efficient and safe driving in the light commercial vehicle category.
Business Solutions division, said: “Safe driving and reducing fuel consumption go hand-in-hand and the TomTom Van Safety Award encourages drivers, and in the real world fleet managers, to evaluate existing driving styles and make improvements. It is well documented that using telematics systems, in tandem with driver training can produce better fuel results, which ultimately leads to safer roads, while reducing fuel costs.” Pictured from left: Ian McKean (navigator), John Kerswill (driver), Caroline Scurr; Director Driving for Better Business (a Government backed programme delivered by RoadSafe), Rob Anderson; Technical Manager Van Best Practice and Irvin Gray; Marketing Manager, TomTom UK & Ireland.
Irvin G r ay, Marketing Manager at To m To m ’s Text & Photo: DIRECTION Gerry Murphy | AUTUMN - gerrym@fl 2010 eet.ie 37
REPORT
Driver CPC – Health & Safety for the Professional Driver
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o have a tutor with practical experience is a big advantage when attending a class, lecture or such like. That was the situation with John Connell, CPC Wise, who delivered the Health & Safety for the Professional Driver module for the Driver CPC course at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris the weekend before the September 10th deadline. Th is module deals with the awareness of the importance of physical and mental ability. Within this section the merits of healthy eating and the different types of nutrients required as well as the sources of same were looked at, while the critical effects that fatigue and stress has on the driver was also discussed. Section 2 deals with the ability to prevent physical risks. Ergonomic issues associated with driving, manual handling, personal protection and pain relief exercises were explored. Th is is where John Connell came to the fore in addressing the class on these subjects. John was not reluctant to disclose that he worked as a coalman and in oil distribution over the years and now specialises in Manual Handling training as well as a Course Director for other transport related issues. It was with Section 2 that John started fi rst. Around the room was a good mix of drivers from the road transport and public transport sectors. Some worked in timber haulage, others in construction while the bus drivers concentrated mostly on local runs. John began with some general housekeeping regarding the venue and then explained to the class why exactly they were there! “The EU Directive 2003/59/EC Driver CPC confirms and expands the existing knowledge and skills of each driver, ensuring professional drivers continue to be safe, courteous and fuel-efficient
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from a road sharing prospective,” he explained. He highlighted the significant differences between the Transport Manager CPC and the Driver CPC, which still causes confusion as the latter primarily deals with the driver’s everyday lives with a focus on road safety and thereby reducing accidents. Ergonomics is much talked about in the car industry, but what does it mean? According to John (who asked us to underline the terminology in the manual provided), “Ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker and adapting the work environment to the needs of humans.” For the professional driver, the design and the driver’s use of the driving position is the crucial ergonomic factor. “However,” said John, “drivers may also be exposed to other risk factors for lower back pain such as poor posture while driving and manual handling while loading and unloading goods.” In explaining the basic principles of ergonomics, John asked members of the class to read out various paragraphs, which was a good idea in relation to interest retention. “There is no sympathy for anyone that suffers from back pain,” stated John, “but it is preventable. By simply having the seat adjusted to your size and weight and the steering column in the best position for you is a good start.” He also said that by taking your wallet or
other bulky items out of our back pocket could prevent back trouble. For the self-assessment of knowledge, questionnaires at the end of these chapters, the class was divided into groups of three where the response was discussed and then followed up with John to ensure the right answer was written in. The importance of the correct method of entering and exiting the vehicle and load area was also discussed before moving onto the manual loading section (D). In outlining his expertise in this area, John cited that the main concern with manual handling activity is the increased risk of injury due to wear and tear on the back, especially on the lumbar inter-vertebral discs. Alarming figures were revealed such as 80% of us will hurt our backs during our lifetime and that 33% of time off work is due to injuries associated with manual handling. “And it’s not always associated with heavy items,” stressed John. “It can happen be merely tripping, twisting or falling.” He described how the skeleton works using a vertebrae column model emphasising that the correct posture is paramount. “In making a successful life John introduced an easy to remember term TILE – Task, Individual, Load and Environment, which he uses all the time in his manual handling classes. He then went on to demonstrate the correct method of lift ing, carrying and putt ing a box down. “It does not have to be even loaded,” he emphasized. Accidents in the workplace amount to approximately 1,000 non-fatal injuries in the road transport industry. Of the 306 workplace fatalities recorded since 2003, 33 of these deaths involved drivers and mobile plant operators. Only the agriculture and construction sectors have higher fatality rates. Both the employers and employees obligations in relation to safety in the workplace in transport have become more to the fore by the Road Safety Authority and the Health & Safety Authority. From using the recommended personal protective equipment that’s regularly checked to
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often but when we do, it’s quite a lot,” added Ultan. It indicates the seriousness that still remains with us.
vehicle parking arrangements, vehicle inspection and maintenance to training and supervision are just some of the issues covered here together with loading and unloading procedures. As accidents are prevalent in the bus & coach industry, more time was taken up to cover safe working practices, as more humans are involved here. John recommended the purchase of the official DSA Guidebooks on Driving Buses & Coaches/Goods Vehicles as good reference material. John’s son Ultan came in to deliver the second session, appropriately enough after the lunch break as it deals mainly with healthy and balanced eating. B.V.M. are three letters to embed into your minds – Balance, Variety and Moderation. A balanced diet ensures you get all the nutrients necessary from a variety of foods while moderation lets you eat all foods! “The more colour you have on the plate, the better it is for you,” suggested Ultan. He told us about an amusing video he once saw of an American truck driver who managed to scoff 2 large donuts and a litre of milk while talking about his healthy eating practices! As drivers spend most of their day relatively inactive between drops, how they eat and exercise determines their long-term health condition. “Healthy eating can lower your risk for disease,” said Ultan. “Healthy eating also may reduce the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, the latter a growing risk among drivers. A selection of exercise tips are included in this chapter but for a more comprehensive regime, see Session 2 – Section C on Physical Fitness which suggests a set of 10 essential stretches that could be done during a rest break, on the way to the car park, while on the phone or any time you can fi nd 2 minutes. The serious issue of the effects of alcohol on driving ability came up next. “One in three drive under the influence of alcohol and 25% of all road fatalities in Europe are alcohol related. As the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the driver increases, the crash rates also rises,” says Ultan. “Compared to a sober driver, the crash rate of a driver with a BAC of 0.8 g/L is 2.7.” Regulations in Ireland will see the further reduction of BAC limits for professional drivers and new licence holders. Among the figures and graphs featured in the manual, the fact that Ireland is among the highest when it comes to alcohol consumption is alarming. “On average, we don’t drink very
More focus than ever must now be paid to drugs or other substances likely to affect driver behaviours. Many drugs including prescription drugs (which must be checked from a fitness to drive point of view) remain in the body for up to 72 hours. Even everyday cold or flu remedies can cause drowsiness. “Some operators concerned about drug abuse amongst staff, have introduced random drug testing for their drivers,” stated Ultan. Drivers who fail such tests face instant dismissal. He went onto highlight the main ‘banned substances’ whilst driving such as diet pills, sleeping pills, tranquillisers and stimulants. He mentioned the strict drug test programmes in the US and Australia to eliminate the activity and that the relative authorities in Ireland will have a similar programme in operation. A question and answer session followed which drew good interaction from the mature students that attended.
say they are often stressed, angry or excited when behind the wheel which has an impact on road safety. Described as ‘The Spice of Life or the Kiss of Death’, stress affects 40 million workers in 15 EU Member States, which contributes to a host of human suffering, disease and death. Before gett ing into the recommended reduction methods, each ‘student’ had to do a self-assessment to ascertain their current stress level. Reminders on the driver’s basic work/rest cycles were then covered before rounding off with a summary of the module session. Although basic in content, this full day module was made all the more interesting by John Connell’s life long experiences and the inclusion of numerous anecdotes such as the fi rst motor vehicle fatality, the advent of seat belts and the safe methods of manual handling as practised during his days as a coal delivery man. His pleasant and easy style of delivery was also appreciated by us all.
Th is subject led to driver fatigue and the high risks involved. The symptoms and causes, effects of fatigue and stress (in Section D) is an everyday threat to the safety of a professional driver and other road users. Extreme tiredness or weariness resulting from physical or mental activity 40,000 undertake Driver CPC to date will bring on driver fatigue even though As the deadline approached for truck drivers to undertake Driver CPC modern day vehicles training, over 40,000 licenced drivers have completed their course to are less demanding to maintain their entitlement to drive for a living. Last year the periodic drive. Road and traffic training course began for bus drivers in order to take in the required conditions require 6 modules over 5 years. The whole process is ongoing after that, full concentration at continuously evolving as the road and passenger transport changes. all times. The RSA Failure to have the signed Driver CPC Certificate to prove attendance continue to promote at a designated course can lead to fi nes of up to €5,000 for the transport that drivers take some operator and €2,000 for the actual driver. exercise or a 15 minute nap after 2 hours behind Under the Directive 2003/59/EC, new entrants to the profession are the wheel and Ultan required to pass an advanced test, which examines not only the person’s endorsed this measure driving skills but also the knowledge that the person has regarding the as well as dispelling the industry he/she is about to join. So, new drivers along with current common prevention truck/bus drivers must undertake 35 hours of training (with each course methods such as opening being at least 7 hours in duration) over 5 successive years. the window, turning up In the lead-up to the September 10 th deadline, the Governing body, the the radio etc. Road Safety Authority received many queries from drivers who failed With stress disturbing to complete their training on time. In these exceptional circumstances sleep patterns the subject the RSA is advising drivers to complete their training as soon as possible of driver fatigue led but must notify the RSA in writing as to the reasons for the delay, along into this other growing with their contact details, driver licence and PPS numbers. Check out health issue. In a recent the RSA website www.rsa.ie for more details and a comprehensive list survey 78% of drivers of Driver CPC training providers.
Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie
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TWIN TEST
Mazda2 & Mazda3 make their mark on Family Car sectors
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he economic downturn has given the small and medium family car sectors a fresh lease of life, with many customers opting to downsize from larger vehicles to save on both purchase and running costs. Mazda Motors is well placed to capitalize in both segments with the fresh faced 3 which arrived in Ireland just under a year ago, while the smaller 2 is about to receive a midlife facelift to be unveiled at this month’s Paris Motor Show. The appeal of the C-Segment Mazda3 has been broadened, at least for the Irish market, by the introduction of a four-door saloon model. Indeed it has proved to be a significant success for the Japanese manufacturer, only the Toyota Corolla saloon outselling it for much of this year. Indeed unlike many smaller cars, which often look as if the saloon version is an afterthought to the hatchback version, the four-door Mazda3 is arguably a betterproportioned car than its five door rival. In the current environment diesel is king, and therefore it's not surprising that the most popular engine variant in the Mazda3 line-up is the 1.6 diesel offering. And quite frankly it’s an engine that is very well matched to this car, offering plenty of performance from its 110 bhp to satisfy all but the most demanding of speed merchants. Combine
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this with excellent fuel economy – Mazda quote 4.5 l/100 km, we managed a very creditable 5.2 l/100 km over mixed driving conditions – as well as the fact that with CO2 emissions of just 119 g/ km the Mazda3 falls into Tax Band A, and it’s easy to see the appeal of this unit. Sharing a platform with the Ford Focus, the Mazda3 is also very much a driver’s car, sharing the Ford’s pin-sharp handling and responsiveness. The suspension takes bumps and undulating surfaces in its stride, and the steering is nicely weighted to give the right amount of feedback to the driver without being overly light or heavy. The interior too has been significantly improved compared to the old model, with good quality plastics now used throughout, and an ergonomically pleasing fascia layout. The forthcoming facelift to the Mazda2 will see the B segment challenger receive an upgraded Euro V powertrain line-up, an automatic version, and an upgraded chassis as well as detail changes including a new front end and an upgraded interior. For this size of car, petrol engines continue to remain popular. Mazda offers a 1.3 litre version with two power outputs of 75 and 86 bhp, strangely
enough with identical CO2 outputs of 125 g/km putt ing them into Tax Band B. Also offered is an 86 bhp 1.4 diesel in Tax Band A. When it was launched the current version of the Mazda2 was one of the fi rst cars to reverse the trend of increasingly heavy models, weighing in 100 kgs lighter than its predecessor. In a small car, that’s not an insignificant amount, and with the more powerful of the two petrol engines as fitted to our test car, the Mazda2 feels surprisingly peppy and willing. Unlike a lot of small cars you feel you can execute an overtaking manoeuvre without putt ing your life at risk. The weight reduction also makes itself felt when it comes to handling – it’s good fun to chuck into corners, although over poorer surfaces, the Mazda2 can feel a bit unsett led on occasions. In five door version, the Mazda2 will comfortably seat four adults. A boot volume of 250 litres won’t carry the kitchen sink, but is generous enough for most everyday tasks. In two of the most competitive market segments, Mazda’s 2 and 3 are certainly worthy of serious consideration. Prices for the Mazda2 start from €14,535 up to €15,930, while the Mazda 3 ranges from €20,495 to €24,995.
Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie