Factors outside the business’s control could also be playing a part.

For example, BT believes that last year’s Royal Wedding contributed to the drop it saw in its accident rate between February and June.

The weather is also a big factor, according to Wallington. It’s common to see accident rates rise during the winter.

For this reason Wallington believes it’s best not to look at data from one month to the next.

“It’s better to look at what happened this time last year and this time the year before,” he says.

Ensure stakeholders meet regularly

Large organisations in particular often find it is best to form a safety committee/steering group/forum to review accident statistics, share problems and identify opportunities for improvement.

Murray suggests the committee should include senior participants from: board level, health safety and environment, insurance/risk, transport/fleet, operations, HR; training, union/labour/driver representation, and external risk management advisers such as the company’s accident management provider or insurance broker.

Meetings should ideally take place on a quarterly basis with formal action minutes; follow-up items allocated and sub-groups as required.

Without action points there is a risk that the committee will “reach its sell by date and become a talking shop”, according to Murray.

“Formal minutes from such groups also build fleet safety into the DNA of the organisation,” he adds.

When Balfour Beatty decided to work towards its Zero Harm initiative target (no seriously disabling injuries, no long-term harm to health and no fatalities to the Balfour Beatty workforce, sub-contractors or members of the public) five fatal risk groups were set up – one of which was driver risk.

The groups included people from different levels in the business and tried to determine the best methods of working to reduce risk.

Balfour Beatty Fleet Services hasn’t had a reportable accident since January 2011 and its fleet director Hugh Cole says Zero Harm is at the top of his agenda at monthly board meetings.

“It’s symbolic to people,” he says. “They’re used to the financials being at the top, but accident statistics and compliance are at the top for us.”

Keep driver training 'fresh'

The fleet accident rate may level off or even rise again simply because company drivers are suffering from what Hill calls “training fatigue”.

“Drivers are no longer receptive because they perceive that it’s just more of the same,” he says.

Peak Performance’s training director Les Hammond says that it’s down to the risk management supplier to “read the mood of the training recipients as the programme progresses and be creative”.