Gizmo to smooth the ride on buses

Going green.... First buses will be fitted with new satellite technology to produce a smoother, more efficient ride

Big Brother will be helping Oldham’s First bus drivers improve their driving styles and earn more money.

Buses will be fitted with the latest GPS technology that can detect dozens of driving movements a minute and immediately lets the driver know well he or she is driving.

The new technology will be installed across its entire UK fleet of 9,000 buses.

It follows a successful trial of the DriveGreen system on 1,000 buses in London, Bradford and Glasgow.

First also says DriveGreen leads to weekly financial rewards for the best and the most improved drivers in the company.

All 784 buses in Greater Manchester will be fitted with the technology over the next few months.

The technology is provided by GreenRoad, a US company, used to help train young motorists to drive more safely.

It picks up on acceleration, braking, and cornering, lane and speed handling. A traffic light monitor on dashboards flashes green for good driving, or amber or red if a bus driver carries out heavy braking or unnecessary acceleration.

The green light means the journey is smooth enough to read a newspaper; amber makes passengers look up from their paper; and red means passengers have on to hold a handrail.

Drivers can then view the overall quality of their drive via the internet. The system can result in a 70 per cent drop in the number of unnecessary driving manoeuvres, equating to a fuel saving of 500 litres a year..

Andrew Scholey, managing director for First in Manchester, said: “Our drivers are the ones who can make a significant difference and they are real green champions.”