COMPANY drivers at a Glasgow security firm are being rewarded with gift vouchers of up to £100 as part of a major incentive scheme which rewards safe driving.

The vouchers start at £25 and are handed to drivers who have not been involved in any accidents and who meet or better the targeted miles per gallon (mpg) for their vehicle.

Meeting the combined mpg figure on a vehicle can reduce fuel costs and proves that motorists are driving sensibly, avoiding harsh acceleration or sharp braking.

Hugh Lawson, learning and development manager at Pointer, said of the safety initiative: ‘We are aware of the importance of recognising and rewarding good driving practice and have introduced the new reward scheme to further encourage and reward responsible driving.’

Pointer has also slashed the number of insurance claims on its 80-strong fleet after introducing a driver-training programme for new starters.

It has teamed up with Knockhill racing centre to offer an advanced driver training package. Pointer produces monthly reports showing employees’ average mpg and the total number of fleet accidents. The information is sent to Knock-hill, which provides a tailor-made course for employees.

Knockhill driver trainer Alistair Fraser said: ‘The course begins with a 45-minute classroom session, designed to improve observation skills in identifying hazards and goes on to cover essential vehicle checks. Staff are then paired up and taken on a practical demonstration by one of our advanced driving instructors. They are then assessed on a variety of road types with further assessment on car control, vehicle positioning, awareness and car sympathy.’

The course is not exclusively for new starters and any driver involved in a further accident or exceeding their average mpg will be sent back for additional training. More than 90 employees have already completed the course.