A record 921 drivers from First Bus have received a special commendation for their driving performance.
The drivers, who are based right across First Bus from Cornwall to Aberdeen, have been presented with ‘GreenRoad Fleet Elite Awards’, designed to reward and recognise the company’s safest and greenest drivers. The number of First Bus drivers to achieve the much heralded Fleet Elite status has increased by 13% since 2014 (817 drivers received Fleet Elite awards in 2014).
All First Bus drivers are measured on their ‘DriveGreen’ performance - a unique system designed to provide customers with a safer, smoother journey, whilst also helping reduce fuel consumption. A DriveGreen ‘traffic light’ monitor is fitted to vehicle dashboards on every First Bus vehicle, which helps show the driver how well he/she is driving. The monitor displays a static green light if the driver is driving at low risk, or flashes amber or red if a bus driver carries out an unwanted driving manoeuvre such as heavy braking or rapid acceleration. Points are given for each event and the fewer points a driver has, the better their DriveGreen score is.
First Aberdeen Bus Driver, Sandra Cordiner, achieved the best score amongst all First Bus drivers in the UK for an impressive third consecutive year. She said: “It’s really important to me that my customers enjoy their trip on the bus. DriveGreen helps make journeys smoother, safer and more enjoyable.
“Since First Bus introduced DriveGreen a few years ago it has certainly helped me improve my driving skills - I’ve even had customers compliment me on how smooth their journey is. Now when I am driving the car in my time off I continue to use the DriveGreen principles and drive more smoothly – it’s safer and saves petrol.”
Dave Alexander, Divisional Director, at First Bus, said: “Our drivers have embraced our groundbreaking DriveGreen technology and as a result are providing customers with better, safer, more comfortable journeys and reducing our carbon footprint.
“We insist on a very high threshold, so it’s tougher to gain Fleet Elite status at First Bus than at any other operator. I’m therefore very proud that so many and an increasing number of our drivers have earned the Fleet Elite Award and are providing better journeys for our customers.”
Dougie Portwood, Global Change Manager with GreenRoad, (DriveGreen suppliers) said: “We would like to congratulate all First Bus drivers who achieved GreenRoad Fleet Elite awards in 2015. First Bus continues to be a top safety performer with some of the tightest thresholds for safety events in our marketplace so attaining Fleet Elite status again this year is a major achievement. We are proud to support First Bus by helping drivers continuously improve their driving standards, creating a safer, greener and more comfortable experience for First Bus customers.”