A BITTER row has broken out among organisations vying to influence future Government policy on fleet safety following a hard-hitting attack on the industry from a transport safety group. TRAVELSAFE, a campaign group for safer travel, has submitted a report, 'Corporate Killing Machines', to the Work-related Road Safety Task Group.

The TRAVELSAFE report said: 'There remains within almost all corporates the much neglected risk of employees' use of corporate-provided vehicles, and on occasion employee-provided vehicles used on corporate business.' It highlights 18 failures among fleets to ensure the safety of drivers and other road users and calls for drastic action to slash accidents, including compulsory warning signs on steering wheels, and mandatory risk management reviews.

Joe Whittaker, the organisation's director-general, is also group insurance and support services manager for a large, unnamed firm, with a fleet of 180 cars. But his savage assessment of fleet safety has sparked a war of words with the Association of Car Fleet Operators. Stewart Whyte, ACFO director said: 'This is dangerous and ill-informed, not to mention an insult to all the fleet managers who have invested heavily in improving fleet safety. It is unfair and unpalatable.'