SAFED for vans training offers the following benefits

• Reduced accidents by the fleet with associated reduced costs
• Reduced fuel costs through more efficient driving style
• Motivated drivers who have received high quality training
• Introduction to improved fuel management practices to help improve the management of the fleet
• Reduced maintenance requirement through improved vehicle sympathy

For drivers these benefits include:

• Less stressful driving techniques
• More fuel efficient driving
• Less chance of accidents
• No impact on journey time
• The techniques taught can be adopted for use in your own private car, hence personal financial benefits

SAFED is a complementary driver development course, consisting of assessment and training. It intends to improve the safe and fuel efficient driving skills of LCV drivers. It therefore should complement a much broader programme of commercial vehicle fleet efficiency management.

Why have van training?

During 2003 UK Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) activity accounted for some 58 billion kilometres (Department for Transport statistics). Over 90% of this distance was in connection with collection and delivery of goods, travel between home and workplace or journeys between jobs and hence LCVs play an important role in the country's economy.

Safer driving means:

• Less injuries and fatalities on our roads
• Less accident damage to vehicles
• Less unproductive downtime for vehicle repair
• The potential for reduced insurance premiums

Fuel efficiency means:

• Lower costs
• Improved profit margins
• Reduced emissions
• Improved environmental performance

Where operators actively monitor and manage the fuel used by vehicles a fleet’s fuel consumption can typically be reduced by 10%, with an equivalent cost saving. Use of safe and fuel-efficient driving techniques as part of fuel management will make a major contribution to this fuel saving.

Safed for vans is now receiving more DfT funding to allow more subsidized places. to take advantage of this funding.

How much does it cost?

Fleet operators/drivers are now required to contribute towards the cost of their training on a sliding scale until the funding is withdrawn in 2010.

Places are limited and will be given on a first come first serve basis until the funding has been exhausted. Companies that have previously has more than 50 funded drivers will not be eligible for any further funded places and other companies will be limited to 10 funded places.