A NEW risk management programme has helped cut the accident rate of a Cambridgeshire company to zero.

Direct Communications, which installs and maintains public address and two-way radio systems, lost £60,000 in accident damage during the first eight months of last year as a result of accidents among its Huntingdon-based fleet of 30 vans and 15 company cars.

Fleet manager Gavin Bailey said: ‘With an increasing focus on reducing road traffic incidents involving at-work drivers, action had to be taken.’

That action was carried out by DriveTech (UK) from October last year. It audited Direct Communications’ driving policies, and all employees completed online risk assessments. The 16 drivers designated as high risk underwent on-road training, while other employees attended road safety workshops.

Bailey said: ‘Since introducing the safe driving training programme, none of our drivers has been involved in a road traffic incident. It has been a huge commitment to make, but it has been worth it.’