The consequences and implications of road crashes, salary sacrifice schemes and parking regulations will be under the spotlight at ACFO’s annual Conference and AGM - the major event of the year for the UK’s leading fleet decision-maker’s organisation.

Taking place on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the annual Conference and AGM is both a crucial information-gathering platform for ACFO members and guests and a key networking event in the fleet calendar.

This year’s event is being sponsored by BMW and is taking place at the manufacturer’s MINI plant in Oxford. The event starts at 10.15am, with registration and light refreshments available from 09:00am.

The Conference will kick-off with Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service giving a unique insight into the life-saving work they perform when attending road traffic crashes - often involving at-work drivers.

With an estimated up to 200 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at work drivers, and more employees killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity, the Government, Health and Safety Executive and the emergency services are all working to stop the carnage amid an ever-tightening legislative crackdown.

Although, official Department for Transport figures show a consistent reduction in road crash casualties - a total of 2,538 people were killed and 228,367 people were injured on Britain’s roads in 2008, the most recent year for which data is available - it is estimated that up to a third of those casualties could be employees on work-related journeys.

Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service’s ‘crash course - a moment of madness’ presentation will be followed by Nathan Male and Mike Moore, of professional services and business advisers Deloitte, discussing salary sacrifice schemes.

Corporate interest in company car salary sacrifice is rising as businesses analyse whether its introduction can save them and their employee’s cash.

Finally, Richard Bentley, of RMB Consulting, who has a 30-year background of investigative experience embracing both law enforcement and traffic management, will discuss ‘parking problems and dealing with officialdom’ against a background of a rising number of at-work drivers being on the receiving end of fines.

ACFO director Stewart Whyte said: “Once again a top quality and highly relevant Conference programme has been compiled, which should be of interest to all fleet decision-makers whether they are professional fleet managers or have a background in HR, finance or procurement.

“Theevent will provide members and guests with the opportunity to hear the views of world-class experts and obtain answers to key questions to enable them to further improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of their fleet.”

ACFO has a six-strong board of directors and thereare two vacant positions arising from the retirement by rotation of chairman Julie Jenner and Whyte. Both of them are offering themselves for re-election as directors. The result of the election ballot will be announced at the AGM.

Throughout the day there will be excellent networking opportunities for members and guest fleet operators from across the UK. There will also be the rare opportunity for a guided tour of the iconic manufacturing plant. BMW is also arranging static displays of a number of its latest models for delegates to inspect.

All the necessary paperwork is now in preparation for distribution to current members. There are some opportunities for non-member fleet decision-makers interested in ACFO’s work to attend as guests.