Eco-driving Techniques Can Reduce Accidents
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Studies show that reducing fuel consumption can lead to safer driving.
Nashville, Tennessee – Researchers have found that transportation companies whose drivers adopt fuel-efficient driving techniques not only reduce emissions and fuel consumption but also decrease the number of traffic accidents.
Although the concept of energy-saving driving dates back to 1999 in Europe, a study conducted by the Canadian Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) in 2023 quantified the benefits of this driving style in reducing accident risks, thereby saving operational costs for transportation companies, said TIRF’s Chief Operating Officer Ward Vanlaar.
Vanlaar and Sam Sussenguth, Chief Sales Officer at Isaac Instruments, attended a session titled “The Connection Between Eco-Driving and Safety” at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition on October 13th.
Fuel-efficient driving techniques include slow acceleration, maintaining steady speeds, anticipating traffic conditions, avoiding high-speed travel, coasting to decelerate, avoiding hard braking, and using cruise control.
TIRF’s study collected data from three commercial transport companies in Canada between 2020 and 2022 using Isaac and other telematics technology providers, involving Class 8 commercial drivers, and validated all necessary elements.
The research overall gathered data from 2,521 drivers and 18,024 driving segments across three Canadian commercial companies. The study showed that the probability of hard braking events decreased by 7%, sharp left and right turns occurred 8% less frequently, and collision likelihood was reduced by 4%.
At the same time, the use of cruise control increased by 1%.
“The increase in driver age is associated with a 9% reduction in the occurrence of hard braking events,” noted the study.
“In the beginning, I thought the link to fuel savings would be more apparent,” Vanlaar said. “But then someone hypothesized that if you drive more environmentally friendly – smoother and with more time for anticipation – could it possibly lead to better accident avoidance, thus linking safety as well.”
Vanlaar pointed out that younger drivers are typically not smooth drivers but tend to use more aggressive acceleration, braking, and turning.
Vanlaar noted that the two most significant cost factors affecting every transportation company’s profit and loss statement are fuel consumption per trip and insurance premiums.
Speakers indicated that a fuel-efficient driving style is significantly associated with reducing near-miss accidents and collisions. It can also lower fuel costs, help prevent premium hikes, and reduce environmental impact.
“The Isaac technology uses various sensors to collect how drivers drive and analyzes which factors need improvement for the driver, providing real-time feedback on how to make these improvements,” Vanlaar said.
Sussenguth stated: “Even with all this advanced technology in our trucks today – predictive cruise control, adaptive cruise control – the driver still impacts fuel economy by about 30%.”
For example, Sussenguth pointed out the impact of coasting on fuel consumption: drivers should allow inertia to carry them up to a traffic light rather than continuing to accelerate and then braking hard. All this can be captured through data, he added.
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Source Website: Transport Topics
