DULUX Decorator Centres, which has a 190-vehicle fleet, is using Euro New Car Assessment Programme crash test results as one of the main criteria for its employees' car choice. With the help of lease supplier Associates Fleet Services, the ICI Paints subsidiary is finalising an NCAP-based choice list of predominantly Ford, Volkswagen, Audi, Honda and Renault models for sales staff and managers. The company will only recommend cars which have scored at least three stars out of the maximum five-star ratings.

Distribution manager Paula Banwell said: 'We view cars as a workplace, so they should be as safe as possible for the employees who are driving them. Even before we began looking at crash test results, we stipulated that all our cars have ABS, dual airbags and high level brake lights.'