Forty-six First Bus drivers across the local area have been recognised for being some of the best on the road, with their safe and green driving skills being recognised.
The drivers, who operate from First’s depots in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Bath and Wells, have been presented with the ‘GreenRoad Fleet Elite Award’.
The award is based on each driver’s ‘DriveGreen’ performance and is designed to reward and recognise the safest and greenest drivers within the business.
First’s unique DriveGreen system, which was launched in 2009, is designed to provide customers with a safer, smoother journey, whilst also reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
A DriveGreen ‘traffic light’ monitor is fitted to vehicle dashboards on every one of First’s buses, which helps show the driver how well they are driving.
The monitor displays a static green light if the driver is driving well, or flashes amber or red if they carry out an unwanted driving manoeuvre such as heavy braking or rapid acceleration.
Points are given for amber or red events with the fewer points a driver has meaning the better their DriveGreen score, and their driving in general, is.
In the latest round of awards, 16 drivers from First’s Lawrence Hill depot in Bristol were recognised, including one, John Mathias (49) from Shirehampton, who had managed to achieve a DriveGreen score of zero – the best possible.
Sixteen drivers from the company’s Hengrove depot in Bristol were recognised too, as well as two working out of Bristol Bus Station.
In addition six drivers from the Weston-super-Mare depot, three from depot in Wells and three from the depot in Bath were given the prestigious awards.
John Mathias, said: “I’m really pleased to have received the award. It’s important to me that my customers have a safe and a smooth trip, and that they feel as though they’re being chauffeured around, like they would if they were being driven in a Rolls Royce.
“Since First 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.”
Paul Matthews, Managing Director of First West of England, said: “Our drivers have embraced the DriveGreen system and as a result are providing customers with better, safer journeys and reducing our carbon footprint. I’m very proud that so many of them have earned the Fleet Elite Award.”
