Driving “more smartly” could shave up to 15% off companies’ fuel bills. That’s the message from the Energy Saving Trust which says drivers can take action to counter rising fuel costs.

The message comes the same week as Chancellor George Osborne’s U-turn over a planned fuel duty rise in August, when pushed it back to next year.

The Trust has launched a nationwide Smarter Driving roadshow programme which it says could help companies save 20p per litre on fuel.

Around 9,000 employees across England – working for organisations which operate company fleets of more than 20 vehicles – will be trained by the Energy Saving Trust over the next nine months.

Bob Saynor, at the Energy Saving Trust said: “We know that rising fuel bills can really affect a company’s balance sheet… Smarter driving is all about reducing fuel consumption. Our trainers work on techniques such as changing up at low revs and helping drivers anticipate the road further ahead.”