Safety Articles

DRIVER'S LOG 1.0
The Right Foot Fuel Economy
Ask a vehicle designer about fuel economy and chances are you will be drawn into a long discussion about drive train efficiency, body aerodynamics and advanced engine control. You’ll learn that a typical gasoline powered car is 14% efficient in converting the energy in a gallon of gasoline into the vehicle’s motion. You might find out that the aerodynamic drag reduction measures on trucks are typically thought to produce 1% of fuel economy gain for every 4% of drag reduction. You can then dig deeper to understand that hybrid power trains increase a car’s efficiency from 14% to 30% and that carbon fiber components and nanotechnology techniques are being used extensively to reduce vehicle weight

Ask an environmentalist the same question and your discussion could focus on the carbon footprint of the energy source, the efficiency from wellhead to driving wheel and the alternatives that are developing to reduce our dependence on oil. You might find yourself discussing the peak oil production debate that pits technologists who say we will always find more oil against conservationists who are armed with numbers to show that we are approaching the day when our oil usage outstrips our ability to produce that demand. The conversation might also focus on alternatives to gasoline and oil as fuel for our cars and trucks.

Ask a politician how to increase fuel economy and you’ll be discussing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and the increase of fuel taxes designed to move the population to smaller, more fuel efficient cars.

Consideration of vehicle design, natural resources and legislation is critical to our fuel economy concern, but engineering, environmentalism and politics are things that yield future results. Their

“cause and effect” is necessarily a forecast rather than an immediate gain. The result is that most people have a hard time identifying with the measures being discussed, because they lack the personal control to make them happen or at least they don’t immediately see the results of their actions.

It is ironic, therefore, that one of the best fuel economy measures we can take, and one that will yield immediate results is absolutely in our personal control. It is an action that does not require engineering, alternative fuels or complicated legislation. It is simple to learn and easy to apply. We call it Right Foot Fuel Economy.

In our 50+ years of training drivers to anticipate traffic changes, see more of the road and pace their speed to “go with the flow” rather than fighting traffic, Smith System has provided excellent returns for customers who invest in our driver training seminars. Our primary result is the reduction of accidents and the cost savings associated with better risk management. But as fuel prices have continued to increase, our customers are focusing on another benefit provided by driver training -- better fuel economy.

The Smith System driving method centers on our trademarked Smith 5 Keys SM:

1. Aim High In Steering® Look further down the road
2. Get The Big Picture® See more around you
3. Keep Your Eyes Moving® Stay alert for changing conditions
4. Leave Yourself An Out® Plan ahead to change direction
5. Make Sure They See You® Help other drivers see you

Think about your driving style -- do you run up behind traffic while driving on a long street with multiple stop lights? Do you find yourself constantly stopping and starting because you have been driving faster than the overall flow of traffic? If so, you are simply like most drivers. We all tend to fight traffic rather than using the flow of traffic to pace lights and maintain our vehicle’s motion. Maintaining your motion can reduce both fuel and maintenance costs.

The calculator shown here is an estimate of a fleet’s fuel economy gain generated by better trained drivers. By pacing city traffic and driving less aggressively on the highway, we have seen customers generate 10, 20 and even 30% savings in fuel usage.

Can different driving reduce your fuel costs? Example -- A Class 8 -- 100 Truck fleet
Potential Fuel Savings	Proprietary Information from Smith System Inc.
Measurement Start Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Number of Drivers 100 100 100 100 Miles Driven per Year per Driver 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 Total Fleet Mileage per Year 10,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000 Smarter Driving Mileage Gain %   10 7 5 Average Fuel Mileage (MPG) 6.5 7.2 7.7 8.0 Annual Fuel Purchase (Gallons) 1,538,462 1,398,601 1,307,104 1,244,861 Average Cost per Gallon ($) $2.80 $2.80 $2.80 $2.80  Total Fuel Cost ($) $4,307,692 $3,916,084 $3,659,892 $3,485,611 Potential Savings from Start ($)   $391,608 $647,801 $822,081 Cumulative Savings From Start ($)   $391,608 $1,039,409 $1,861,491

Estimates Only -- Intended for simulation of possible costs and savings
Your fuel savings may be higher or lower than shown
This calculator does not imply any guarantee of performance from Smith System Inc.

Don’t misunderstand -- this is not about simply lifting your right foot off the pedal and seeing some results. Rather, it is a comprehensive training methodology that makes less aggressive driving both enjoyable and habit forming. Real fuel economy gains come from the consistent, repeated application of the Smith 5 Keys®.

Think about your fleet. What is your current fuel mileage average? How many miles does each vehicle travel each year? What would a consistent change in driving style yield in terms of bottom line dollars? In the example below, we show a 10% savings in the first year and smaller gains as you establish your improved economy baseline. 100 vehicles, increasing fuel prices and almost $2 Million in accumulated fuel savings over a three year period! Your numbers may vary, but we think you will agree that the savings can be significant. Add these fuel savings to your cost reduction from accident avoidance and the overall return on your driver training investment can be excellent. for more information www.smith-system.com