First bus is to fit its entire fleet with groundbreaking ‘green’ technology after onboard state-of-the art devices were tested in Bradford.

The latest GPS equipment will help improve driving styles and reduce the carbon footprint of buses as the devices can detect dozens of driving movements per minute and immediately let the driver know just how well they are driving.

The equipment picks up on acceleration and braking patterns as well as corner, lane and speed handling.

A ‘traffic light’ LED monitor displayed on the bus’s dashboard flashes green if the driver is driving correctly, or amber or red if a driver carries out unwanted manoeuvres such as heavy braking or unnecessary acceleration. When the driver gets back to the depot he or she can go to a website to see what score they got.

Since the pilot scheme began in March First says it has seen a 70 per cent decrease in the number of unnecessary driving manoeuvres by drivers and that this has led to a significant decrease in the levels of carbon dioxide produced by its buses.

Because of the successful pilot in Brdford – and others in London and Glasgow – a further 800 buses in nearby Leeds, Huddersfield, Halifax and York will now be fitted with the technology over the next few months.

Dave Alexander, Managing Director for First in West and North York-shire, said: “Our drivers can make a significant difference. They are real green champions.”

To encourage drivers to use the DriveGreen technology to help improve their driving style, weekly financial rewards will be given out.