MIDDLE-aged fleet drivers are more likely to have a fleet accident than their younger colleagues, new research reveals.

Research by ProAct, Interleasing's accident management service, among 20,000 drivers found that 31-40 year olds are four times more likely to have an accident than 17-25 year olds.

However, when young drivers do crash, they cause much more damage. Young drivers accidents tend to cost £1,000 compared to £790 for 31 to 40 year olds.

Diarmuid Fahy, accident services manager at Interleasing said: 'This research clearly shows which drivers are one of the biggest risks to business. The surprise for most people will be the number of incidents that were down to middle-aged executives. This could be due to bad habits or complacency.'

Figures compiled last year by MAC Driver Training found that more than two-thirds of fleet drivers involved in an accident, attributed their own driving to the mishap, a problem MAC believes could be reduced by better training. Fahy agreed but believes training should focus on those drivers more likely to have an accident.

He said: 'Companies spend thousands of pounds on blanket driver training when it could be better spent on the individuals who are costing the business most.'

The research also indicated that those working in the automotive, business services and retail sectors were more likely to have an accident than those in engineering, manufacturing and utilities.