THE RAC has fitted monitoring devices to a number of its vehicles in a fuel economy trial.

Fifty vans from the 1,325-strong fleet have had Siemens VDO monitors installed by Lex Autocentres so the RAC can determine what effect breakdown procedures, including towing, battery charging, idling and cab heating have on fuel.

The trial is part of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions-funded LINK Inland Service Transport Programme to monitor fuel usage and driver patterns, and will last 12 months.

Martin Connor, RAC director of roadside operations, said: 'This trial will help us understand exactly what fuel our patrol vehicles use during their working day and will enable us to adopt different practices to help us reduce fuel consumption.'