AN award-winning fleet manager whose car policy bans vehicles if they produce too much carbon dioxide has slashed the level of emissions cars can produce to qualify for his company's choice list.

Graham Hine, facilities manager at the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI), has reduced the maximum target for CO2 emissions from 190g/km to 180g/km, a fall of more than 5%, for the 124-vehicle fleet.

It is one of two policies being introduced next month by Hine, who won the Vauxhall-sponsored Fleet Manager of the Year (100-400 vehicles) trophy at this year's Fleet News Awards.

Alongside slashing the acceptable amount of CO2 emissions allowed on his fleet, Hine is also introducing a new driver training programme, designed to reduce the number of accidents involving stationary objects.

Hine explained: 'We have a user-chooser policy on our fleet as long as the choice of vehicle meets our criteria. At the moment the maximum CO2 emissions are 190g/km which has been in place for two years.

'However, following an analysis of our fleet and without undermining the policy in terms of offering a choice to users, we have decided to reduce the level to 180g/km from July 1. Reducing the CO2 emissions by 10g/km doesn't seem a lot but it is significant enough to reduce overall CO2 levels and leaves scope to reduce them further in the future.'

Some vehicles on the fleet will fall outside the policy, but Hines says drivers will still have a reasonable choice.

All new policies taken from next month will have to adhere to the new policy, although drivers with existing contracts won't have to comply until their current contract expires.

As part of the second fleet policy change, each of the ALI's 160 drivers will undergo a tailored driver training programme rather than the standard driver training currently in place.

Hine said: 'We analysed our claims history, which indicated that more than 30% of accidents involve drivers hitting a stationary object. We put all our drivers through driver training and while this has been beneficial, it hasn't reduced the number of accidents involving stationary objects.

'We have now decided to look at the individual driver in terms of driving styles, attitudes and lifestyle, then deciding what the appropriate driver training would be needed for the individual.'

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