WATER and electricity services company United Utilities North West (UUNW) is putting hundreds of its drivers through a driver training and risk assessment programme.

The firm’s bosses say they have already noted reductions in the number of accidents staff are having in company vehicles, although they are not releasing official figures.

It is putting its 4,700 drivers through risk assessments, workshops and driver training, working closely with specialists Peak Performance.

Mark Hutchings, health and safety advisor at the company, which has more than 2,000 field-based vans, about 200 cars and 200 drivers who have taken a cash alternative, said: ‘One of our objectives is to reduce the number of miles driven by staff by 5%, because we know that as a consequence of travelling fewer miles we will have fewer accidents and that we will reap the cost benefits in reduced fuel costs, wear and tear and better residual values for our vehicles.

‘The risk assessment and driving training measures will help us achieve that objective, as well as raising awareness throughout the business of the risks associated with at-work driving.’

In recognition of the initiative, UUNW has now been awarded the gold award for managing occupational road risk by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for continuous improvement over the last four years.