THE implementation of a driving training programme has led drinks supplier Britvic Soft Drinks to slash its accident rate by 35%.

Following a trial involving 120 drivers, the group applied the training, provided by Epping-based ATC, to its 750-strong fleet over a two-year period, with plans to provide further training at the end of this year.

David Buckby, company secretary at Britvic, said: 'Results were monitored over an initial 12-month period post training and these were staggering. The sample of drivers who had received the full practical session showed a reduction of 35% in the number of accidents.

'In addition, feedback from the training was extremely positive and numerous requests were received from those excluded from the trial who felt aggrieved at their exclusion. Not only were accident numbers reduced but fuel costs relating to the trained sample showed an improvement as drivers subsequently applied their newly learned proactive driving techniques.'

Britvic introduced the training course following an increase in the number of fleet accidents and to improve the duty of care it provided to employees. After using the points acquired on employee driving licences for a benchmark to performance, the group decided to re-evaluate its system.

Buckby added: 'Britvic assumed that possession of a current driving licence was adequate for its purposes and the accumulation of penalty points would highlight poor performers for subsequent action. Our motor costs were beginning to show that this was obviously not the case.'