Managing the fuel crisis

Telematics data and training will be vital tools in the battle against fuel shortages in the coming week.

Fleet managers can use telematics data to identify which vehicles cover the highest daily mileages to ensure support is directed at drivers who need it most.

Data can also deliver vital insights on average fuel economy, so that employees can be encouraged to make simple changes to driving style that will ensure every tankful lasts longer.

The way a car or van is driven can have a dramatic impact on fuel economy.

For example, a vehicle travelling at 70 mph will use up to 30% more fuel than it would at 55 mph. From 70-80mph, fuel use increases 25%.

Furthermore, telematics data can show that speeding does not mean faster journeys. Speeding at 80mph instead of 70mph saves around six seconds per mile; an hour’s speeding can be wiped out just by needing to slow down for a few seconds or stopping at a traffic light when you leave the motorway. The same is true in urban environments, where congestion and traffic lights negate any attempt to go faster than average traffic speeds.

Managers can use telematics data to identify harsh acceleration and braking and then help drivers to adapt their driving style in urban environments to reduce fuel use by 30%.

This all benefits drivers by reducing the need for fuel stops. For a 60 litre (10 gallon) fuel tank, careful driving could halve the frequency of fill-ups by extending range from 300 miles to more than 500.

Companies could embed long-term savings by focusing on improving fuel economy and looking at average speeds on journeys to educate employees that speeding and harsh acceleration are, in reality, a waste of time.

They could also introduce incentives based on telematics data to reward fuel efficient driving, as it has been directly linked to a reduction in incidents.

Reflex Vehicle Hire provides telematics throughout its fleet to help companies manage their vehicles more effectively on the road.

Our Driive with Reflex system includes telematics and dashcams and our award-winning third-party monitoring service that provides rapid data analysis and live support for drivers on the road to get the most out of their vehicles.

For details on the wealth of vehicles available on flexible terms from Reflex Vehicle Hire, review our Vehicle Selection page or contact one of our expert team members.

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