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Past Issues

April 2010

Eco-Drivers could go wider

A good news story is the recent launch of the first Green Goal ecodrivers. Funded by SAPIA (South African Petroleum Industry Association) in conjunction with the City of Cape Town and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape’s greening programme (part of the green goal 2010 FIFA World Cup greening programme), the driver education programme focuses on more responsible, considerate and safer driving to improve the carbon foot print and use less fuel.

The launch of this initiative sees the realisation of a pilot project with 20 certified eco-drivers behind the wheels of their metered taxis. Speaking at the launch, Gottlieb Arendse, director of Waste Management in Cape Town said. “It all comes down to fuel consumption and driver behaviour”. Western Cape government MEC for transport and public works, Robin Carlisle, said that SAPIA’s initiative to educate drivers to use less of their products should be seen as enlightened self-interest.

FuelWatch reports on this development because the concept could be introduced to all driver training programmes, this especially so with the K53 curricula being reviewed, upgraded and improved. SAPIA’s Anton Moldan agrees that given a determined effort to drive the concept, it could be incorporated in requirements for learner and driver licenses as well as TETA accredited driver training programmes.

The metered taxi industry was selected by Green Goal 2010 for the pilot training programme because it is part of the South African Host Programme 2010 - and because in Cape Town, its industry is a highly organised one. Drivers invited to participate in the pilot were requested to monitor their fuel-consumption against current baseline fuel consumption, so that the success of the programme can be measured. The pilot programme is part of the global UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) fuel-saving programme, which SAPIA hopes to expand nationally later this year.

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