FirstGroup Selects GreenRoad Service for 9,000 Buses

DriveGreen Program Will Improve Environmental EfficiencyREDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – August 4, 2009 – GreenRoad, a global pioneer in improving driving behavior, today announced that First UK Bus, Britain’s largest bus operator, has signed a five-year contract to deploy GreenRoad’s service across its fleet of 9,000 buses. First’s DriveGreen initiative, powered by GreenRoad, will improve environmental efficiency and passenger comfort.

GreenRoad is a technology-based, automated driver coaching service that increases safety and reduces CO2 emissions, providing benefits to the drivers, the bus company and its passengers. It helps drivers and depot managers identify and correct unnecessary driving behavior while it occurs and sustains improvements over time through constant reinforcement. First started to trial GreenRoad’s service in March 2009 on 1,000 buses and the company has already seen a significant decrease in the amount of CO2 emissions from its buses and a 70 percent decrease in the number of unnecessary driving maneuvers.

Up to 20,000 First bus drivers will now be trained in real-time on the new program. GreenRoad’s service combines in-vehicle technology with integrated Web-based applications that continuously rate driving skills. It provides feedback to drivers in the form of a red-yellow-green LED display and, unlike other in-vehicle systems, is focused on improving driver skills. First drivers will be empowered to change their own behavior behind the wheel based on a combination of automated feedback from the GreenRoad Service and constructive coaching.

First’s fleet and depot managers will gain insight into driving behavior, and will have the tools they need to help drivers achieve environmental efficiency goals which will see First bus CO2 emissions reduce by 132,000 tons over the next three years. First will also have the option of working with bus manufacturers to pre-install GreenRoad’s technology in new buses.

“With this deployment, First is showing just how seriously it takes its responsibility to its drivers, its passengers and the wider community,” said Aidan Rowsome, general manager of GreenRoad Europe. “Customers recognize that public transport is a greener way to travel. But First Group is taking innovative transportation to an entirely new level, making bus travel even more eco-efficient, comfortable and safe.”

Nicola Shaw, Director for First Bus in the UK, Ireland and Germany, said: “This is a significant step in our efforts to improve the comfort and safety of our bus services as well as making a real environmental difference to the world that we, and future generations, will live in.

“The great thing about this project is that our drivers are the ones who can make a significant difference and they are real ‘green’ champions. By changing their driving habits by just a small fraction, the gains in terms of environmental efficiency are huge, as well as in areas such as the cost of fuel to the business, which means we can keep bus fares down, and improve the safety and comfort of our passengers.

“The drivers that I have spoken to are very enthusiastic about the project and especially enjoy being empowered to play their part in helping to protect the environment for themselves and their children.

“To give drivers even further incentive, we have provided a £2million reward pot and will look to reward those drivers who achieve and maintain the highest standards of driving.”

About FirstGroup

FirstGroup plc is the world’s leading transport operator with revenues of over £6 billion. It employs some 136,000 staff throughout the UK and North America and transports more than 2.5 billion passengers a year.

It is Britain’s largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services and carrying 3 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities. FirstGroup is the leader in safe, reliable, innovative and sustainable transport services – global in scale and local in approach.

About GreenRoad

GreenRoad is the pioneer and world’s leading provider of a comprehensive service to improve driving behavior. GreenRoad helps commercial fleets, insurers and consumers measure, improve and sustain safe and fuel-efficient driving behavior. The service integrates real-time, in-vehicle feedback, coaching, reporting and risk analysis tools to empower drivers to improve immediately. GreenRoad’s system is cost-effective, automated, and fully scalable. It typically reduces fuel consumption by up to 10 percent and reduces crashes by up to 50 percent. The company is headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with sales offices throughout the U.S. and UK and an R&D Center in Israel.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Ursula Ron
Online Marketing Manager
ursula.ron www.greenroad.com