Bus drivers for First UK Bus are to find themselves being monitored to see how well they are driving by an electronic system which will analyse how they perform.

GreenRoad's system could see drivers assessed on up to 120 manoeuvres by an onboard motion detector, GPS and computer which will log driving patterns which can be analysed back in First's offices.

With a pot of £2 million pound for the best performing drivers it has met with little resistance, and drivers will be able to monitor their performance by red, amber and green LED lights on the dashboard providing instant feedback on how they are performing, with the green light indicating the best driving.

It is hoped that encouraging better driving practices will also reduce bus accidents and reduce CO2 emissions by cutting acceleration and breaking with driving being at a more constant speed.

The system is also capable of helping with the training of bus drivers and it is planned that 20,000 drivers will learn with the aid of the system over the next five years.

Any system that reduces CO2 emissions and could reduce road accident casualties should be encouraged, and the first 1,000 of First's buses had the system fitted for trial in March, and it is anticipated the remaining 8,000 buses will have it fitted over the next year.