Green light given to eco-driving test

Published on Saturday 30 August 2008 19:35

IT'S AN unforgettable rite of passage for anyone seeking the legal right to sit behind the wheel of a car. The dreaded driving test sets pulses racing and stomachs churning in even the most confident of would-be motorists.

But it is no longer enough to be a safe driver. You will now also have to be an eco-safe driver.

From next week, everyone who sits the nerve-shredding test will also be assessed on whether they drive their vehicles in a manner that will conserve fuel, help the environment and save money.

Although learner drivers will not be passed or failed on the assessment, they will receive the results from their examiner and be given a leaflet on how to adopt eco-driving techniques in their future driving careers.

Examination chiefs have not ruled out the possibility the eco-test being made a failure issue in future, however.

The new practical assessment has been introduced by the Driving Standards Agency to comply with European Union legislation. The assessment, aimed at creating a new generation of drivers with fuel saving and economy in mind, has already been introduced in Germany.

The European Climate Change Programme has calculated that if all drivers across the EU adopted eco-driving, they would save 25 billion litres of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, blamed for global warming, by at least 50 million tonnes annually.

With fuel prices soaring in recent months, the assessment should appeal to increasingly cost-conscious motorists. The DSA estimates that an average driver travelling 12,000 miles a year will save around 150 a year at the pumps if they adopt eco-driving principles.

The DSA said there were no plans at present to make eco-safe driving a pass or fail issue.

But environmental groups, while welcoming the measure, said it might need to be made a compulsory requirement if motorists failed to heed the lessons.

Last year, the DSA administered more than 1.7 million driving tests in the UK with a 44% pass rate. Learners will now be faced with two new boxes on the examiners's test form relating to control of the vehicle and planning for road conditions ahead.

They will be assessed by an examiner on how smoothly they drive when starting off, accelerating and braking, and making gear changes.

They will be marked down on the assessment for excessive revving, labouring the engine and failing to identify hazards early enough to allow smooth braking time.

It will also be noted if they fail to react to hazards ahead, causing them to decrease speed sharply rather than gradually. Whether they pass or fail, candidates will be told of the eco-driving results.

The DSA leaflet tells drivers: "Eco-safe driving is a style of driving that has been proven to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and contribute to road safety. Reducing those emissions, helping to keep yourself safe and saving yourself money, is easier than you think."

A spokesman for the DSA said: "The introduction of eco-safe driving techniques into the practical test means we can encourage greener driving habits for learners.

"Driving in an eco-safe manner not only means safer driving but can also reduce air pollution. We want learner drivers to understand that the way they drive can improve their safety, help them tackle carbon emissions and save them money."

Key tips for eco-friendly driving include: try to avoid excessive revving when starting the engine and moving away; use the accelerator smoothly and progressively and avoid pumping, as this uses more fuel; identify hazards early to avoid sudden braking and acceleration; use engine-braking; switch off the engine when stuck in traffic or waiting for a passenger; and remove roof boxes and racks when not in use.