The fifth quarterly fleet insurance report from VELO, which is based on more than 25,000 claims relating to more than 50,000 fleet vehicles under management, attributes the slump to the increased fitment of security devices.

The report says: 'A fall of just over 17% in the number of fleet drivers experiencing a theft, break-in or instance of vandalism is highly significant. It can be attributed both to the fact that more manufacturers are fitting alarms and immobilisers as standard equipment to new vehicles, and to the effectiveness of security initiatives recommended by VELO to its customers.'

The report adds: 'This trend will have a knock-on effect on car crime experienced by the private motorist - those buying new or recent used vehicles now will benefit from the improvements in vehicle security, with older, more vulnerable vehicles being phased out.'

FLEET chiefs should weight their vehicle allocation policies to take account of the risk represented by the ages of their drivers, according to VELO.

New research reveals that drivers aged 36-40 and the over-50s have a higher than average claim rate, contrary to popular opinion. Drivers aged 17-25 have the most severe accidents but typically drive the least expensive cars. There are unexpected peaks in the 36-40 age group - with VELO suggesting evidence of a mid-life crisis - and the over-50s.

The insurance report reveals that the severity of accidents, represented by the cost of each incident, fell for drivers aged between 40 and 50 years old before increasing.