A PHARMACEUTICAL company with a 300-strong fleet has slashed its accident rate by a fifth in two years.

Roche UK achieved the reduction after introducing a driver-training programme for all essential drivers, including those opting out of the company car scheme.

The company, which has an additional 200 drivers under its cash-for-car scheme, puts all new external drivers through driver training with one-to-one practical sessions.

Fleet manager Gill Shaw said: ‘We have always been safety-conscious and with the latest Health and Safety Executive rulings covering at work driving and work related road risk, we wanted to demonstrate that we recognised our duty of care towards those of our employees who drive company vehicles as part of their duties.

‘We also extend that to those drivers who have opted out of the company car scheme but are still using their own cars to drive substantial miles on company business.’

Driver training provider Peak Performance provided the training for Roche UK which involved training and assessing its high mileage, essential user drivers in line with the group’s corporate health and safety policy.