'Treat lorry drivers as role models'

• Average lorry uses £45,000 of fuel per year
• Lorry drivers trained to drive efficiently
• Benefits of eco-driving for all motorists shown

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Motorists should treat lorry drivers as role-models in the fight to cut carbon emissions, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

The message is part of the RHA's response to the Commission for Integrated Transport's eco-motoring report, which suggested that drivers should have state-sponsored eco-driving lessons to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

With the average annual fuel bill for an articulated lorry being around £45,000, eco-friendly driving is an essential part of the way trucks are driven.

Road haulage professionals are trained in techniques such as reading the road, anticipating hazards and selecting the correct gear for best fuel economy.

'Haulage companies have been promoting the principals of good driving for many years,' says RHA director of policy, Jack Semple.

'We are not claiming that every haulage driver is perfect. However, most are very good and the culture of the industry is focused on safety and economy.'