Changing driver behavior, It’s an interesting subject (covered extensively in your free supplement with the October 25 issue of Fleet News) By educating your drivers and altering the way they drive you can reap big fuel and SMR savings across your fleet. It’s an idea that hasn’t gone un-noticed with me as I remain disappointed with the Exeo’s fuel consumption figures. It’s not that they are terrible, but I think that nowadays, most cars should be achieving over 50mpg.

Even my wifes 2.0 TDi 7-seat Volkswagen Touran with 56,000 miles on the clock will regularly see over the magic 50 figure and even a fully loaded trip to Shropshire from Peterborough saw it average 49mpg.

So, changing driver behavior is what I’m doing and it is working, feather-light acceleration, low pressure braking and smooth cornering have seen the figures of my daily 10 mile commute rise from between 38-41mpg to between 40 and 43mpg and I am now possibly the best driver I have ever been with much smoother and more fluid control. It’s not a massive mpg increase, but it goes to show that changing driver attitudes can make a difference, multiply that extra 2-3mpg across a large fleet and the fuel saving could really start to show , not to mention the reduced wear and tear on consumables like tyres and brakes.

And it get better, on a recent trip from Peterborough to Matlock Bath my new relaxed driving style saw an average for the entire 85 mile journey of 47.6mpg, it was cause for a small celebration as I eke the Exeo closer to the claimed combined figure of 51.4mpg.

On a lighter note I have discovered 2 more cup holders although they are tucked away inside the fold down arm rest in the rear. Fine for back passengers but very difficult to use from the front seats.

By Luke Neal