Eco-driving campaign in Dushanbe leads to high demand for training

In Tajikistan road transport is by far the main source of air pollution, contributing 13 times more than total emissions from industry and energy sectors in 2014. With a growing vehicle fleet and an 80% increase in CO2 emissions from transport projected by 2030, reducing emissions is a priority.

One way to help reduce CO2 emissions is through eco-driving. Eco-driving enables a more fuel-efficient and relaxed driving style without any loss of time. It is also a lot safer.

Therefore, with the support of the EBRD Special Shareholders Fund, for the last five months EASST partners the Young Generation of Tajikistan (YGT) have been implementing a seat-belt and eco-driving campaign in Dushanbe which has seen significant results.

Focus groups revealed most drivers would like to reduce fuel costs but do not know how. Most were also concerned about the effects on the environment of the growing number of vehicles in Dushanbe. As part of the campaign, eco-drive messages were displayed on the streets of Dushanbe and a special training course was developed on eco-drive techniques for professional drivers and fleet managers.

The media campaign included billboards and lightboxes which were passed each day by around 293,000 vehicles and similar numbers of pedestrians; over 2,600 television and radio broadcasts, as well as social media messaging and distributing leaflets across the city.

The Eco-Driving training course – in Tajik and Russian – targeted the most important fleet managers in Dushanbe and key groups of drivers in the city. Courses were organised involving the main bus and taxi companies, private fleets and even maxi-taxi drivers in the city.

The course set out the case for eco-driving – showing the differences it can make in fuel consumption. It defined eco-driving in terms that were understood by the audience and provided advice on eco-driving techniques such as journey preparation; vehicle maintenance; driving habits; management of fleets and drivers. Overall the course took two to three hours to deliver including discussion and question time. In addition a leaflet with ‘top tips’ for eco-driving was produced as a take-away for course participants and for general distribution.

So far, the course has been taken by 146 professional drivers and fleet managers in Dushanbe and is still in high demand.

EASST has plans to develop this short-course into an online training module as part of its EASST Academy online learning platform.