Record number of First Bus drivers receive top performance award

A record 956 drivers from First Bus have received a special commendation for their top driving performance.

The drivers, who are based right across First Bus’s UK operations from Cornwall to Aberdeen, have been presented with ‘GreenRoad Fleet Elite Awards’, designed to reward and recognise the company’s safest and greenest drivers. The number of First Bus drivers to achieve the much heralded Fleet Elite status has increased every year since its introduction and now 7% of all First Bus drivers have achieved the distinction.

All First Bus drivers are measured on their ‘DriveGreen’ performance - First’s unique system 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 Bus vehicle, which helps show the driver how well he/she is driving. The monitor displays a static green light if the driver is driving at low risk, or flashes amber or red if a bus driver carries out an unwanted driving manoeuvre such as heavy braking or rapid acceleration. Points are given for each event and the fewer points a driver has, the better their DriveGreen score is.

Giles Fearnley, Managing Director, at First Bus, said: “Our drivers have embraced our ground-breaking DriveGreen technology and as a result are providing customers with better, safer, more comfortable journeys and reducing our carbon footprint.

“We insist on a very high threshold, so it’s very tough to earn Fleet Elite status at First Bus. I’m therefore very proud that so many and an increasing number of our drivers have earned the Fleet Elite Award and are providing better journeys for our customers.”

Lucy Allen, Global Account Manager with GreenRoad, said: “We would like to congratulate all First Bus drivers who achieved GreenRoad Fleet Elite awards in 2016. First Bus continues to be a top safety performer with some of the tightest thresholds for safety events in our marketplace so attaining Fleet Elite status again this year is a major achievement. We are proud to support First Bus by helping drivers continuously improve their driving standards, creating a safer, greener and more comfortable experience for First Bus customers.”

About First Bus

Across the UK First Bus operates in a huge number of communities, including 40 of the country’s largest towns and cities.

You can travel by First Bus in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Swansea, Portsmouth, Southampton, Stoke, Leicester, Bristol, Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Plymouth, Taunton and many other cities, towns and villages.