Employers can help put the brakes on poor driving by signing their staff up for a free training course.
The one-day session is aimed at companies in the Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe and Shildon areas whose staff drive light commercial vehicles or private or company cars for work activities.
Run by Durham County Council and paid for through the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, the course aims to improve driving habits and leave drivers feeling less stressed when behind the wheel.
As well as learning important techniques such as how to make better use of their gears and the importance of keeping the correct distance in order to reduce braking, trainees will also develop more environmentally-friendly ways of driving, which will help reduce fuel consumption.
Alan Kennedy, Durham County Council’s road safety section manager, said: “We have already delivered safe and fuel efficient driver training courses to a number of companies in Newton Aycliffe, all of which say they have since seen a significant increase in fuel efficiency.
“The funding for these courses will continue until March 2015 so there is plenty of opportunity for companies to take part and make the most of the financial benefits of having safer drivers who also drive in a more environmentally-friendly way.
The fully-accredited course is delivered by a team of instructors who are ADI Level 5 or 6, fleet qualified and who are fully-qualified in fuel efficient driver training.
Courses can be arranged to suit the needs of individual companies and are based on one instructor for every two trainees.
For more information contact Durham County Council’s road safety team on 0191 383 3769 or 0191 383 4728.