Arriva to introduce major CO2 emissions reduction programme across European bus fleet.

Arriva, a leading European passenger transport company, have signed a contract with TomTom Telematics, recently acquired by Bridgestone, to install its telematics system on up to 15,000 buses across the UK and nine countries in Mainland Europe.

Arriva is committed to reducing the global impacts of travel, improving air quality in congested towns and cities, and minimising its own environmental impacts as a business.

This latest technology investment - which provides drivers with instant feedback around braking, acceleration and idling - will enable Arriva to reduce fuel use from its bus operations by up to six per cent each year and cut CO2 emissions each year by up to 72,000 tonnes. This is the equivalent of reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated by more than 15,000 cars being driven in a year.

Jo Humphries, Arriva Group Transformation Director, said: “This investment in TomTom Telematics is an investment in our drivers. Every second of every journey, our 32,000 drivers have to make the right decisions to take passengers safely from pick-up to destination.

"When supported by regular coaching and training, our drivers will be equipped to drive the best they can. In doing so they can provide even safer and more comfortable journeys for passengers and reduce fuel usage to deliver substantive reductions in CO2 emissions.”

Thomas Schmidt, managing director of TomTom Telematics, said: “Arriva has recognised the business benefits that can be gained by improving operational visibility and empowering drivers to improve their performance behind the wheel.

“Our fleet management solution, WEBFLEET, gives Arriva powerful insights into areas for improvement across its extensive network. For instance, it highlights inefficiencies affecting the amount of fuel usage in a day.

“We are delighted that our innovative telematics technology will continue to help Arriva fulfil its long-term environmental and operational goals.”

The contract will support the installation of the technology on Arriva’s bus fleet in Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK.