Fleet safety the DriveTech way pays off for ICI Paints

Risk management strategy wins company European award

31 January 2005

Jim Kirkwood - DriveTech MD, Garry Hyde - DriveTech Business Development Manager and Helen McGreal - Safety, Health and Environmental Manager of ICI Dulux Trade Paints UK (Commercial Operations)

One of the UK ’s most safety focused car fleets has clocked up an incredible 6.2 million miles (10 million kilometres) in 12 months with just two blameworthy accidents.

And across the entire fleet of ICI Dulux Trade Paints UK (Commercial Operations), which is composed of 245 cars and 180 vans and clocked up a total of 10.02 million miles last year (16.12 million kilometres), there was just 15 culpable accidents.

The division, part of the multi-national ICI Group, supplies retail and trade outlets with its leading brands, including Dulux Trade, Glidden and Polycell Trade, as well as having its own nationwide trade merchant chain, Dulux Decorator Centres, which, itself has a fleet of 180 vans.

The company has had its fleet safety performance, which has been achieved in partnership with DriveTech (UK), the country’s leading provider of at-work driving risk management, driver assessment and driver training solutions, recognised with the ICI Paints ( Europe ) chief executive’s 2004 Safety Award.

ICI Dulux Trade Paints UK (Commercial Operations) began its business relationship with DriveTech (UK) in May 2000. During that year the division recorded 59 blameworthy accidents across the fleet - 31 involving vans and 28 cars - with vehicles covering 8.78 million miles (14.1 million kilometres).

Helen McGreal, safety, health and environmental manager of ICI Dulux Trade Paints UK (Commercial Operations), said: ‘We are very pleased at the reduction in our accident record, while our annual mileage has increased, and particularly delighted that our car fleet went through a whole year with just two drivers being involved in a blameworthy accident.

‘But we are not complacent and we will continue to be innovative in our safety focus across the fleet. We are also delighted that despite some of the criticism van drivers receive the number of blameworthy accidents involving our commercial vehicle staff has fallen year-on-year. We will continue to be pro-active in our attempts to reduce further our light commercial vehicle accident figures, even though they have reduced by more than 50% in the last five years.

‘The Dulux Trade Paints business is viewed as a beacon of industry-leading road safety best practice within the ICI Group and many of our fleet initiatives are being adopted in other sectors of the business.’

Jim Kirkwood - DriveTech MD, Helen McGreal - Safety, Health and Environmental Manager of ICI Dulux Trade Paints UK (Commercial Operations) and Garry Hyde - DriveTech Business Development Manager

A raft of safety features are required to be fitted as standard to all company cars and the list across the user-chooser fleet includes: ABS brakes, driver and passenger airbags, head restraints and full shoulder seat belts, air conditioning, a high-level brake light, adjustable lumbar support and all vehicles must carry a safety kit encompassing warning triangle, fire extinguisher and high visibility vest.

In addition, in compiling the 35-model car choice list, the European New Car Assessment Programme crash test results are taken into account - cars must have a minimum four-star occupant protection rating - along with whiplash protection test results from the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre.

The company operates a solus Ford Transit van fleet with Britain ’s best-selling van chosen because of its extensive seat/steering wheel adjustments - 92 in total - to aid driver comfort with reversing sensors and ABS brakes fitted as standard. In addition, vans are fitted with passenger side airbags and are modified to incorporate a bulkhead to ensure loads do not invade the cab - a ‘cat-flap’ is fitted in the bulkhead to enable lengths of coving to be carried safely. Additional load restraining eyes and straps are also fitted.

Ms McGreal added: ‘We also take into account a significant amount of ergonomic advice from DriveTech as it is important for all drivers, but particularly our high-mileage drivers, that their posture is correct.’

All staff who drive on business - around 600 employees in total - complete a half-day individual driver training course as part of their two-week corporate induction programme under the watchful eye of DriveTech (UK) instructors. That is followed by a refresher training course every three years, while high-mileage drivers also complete a training workshop after 18 months on the road.

Ms McGreal said: ‘The induction course, particularly for van drivers, is very powerful in both protecting our assets and other road users. Some commercial drivers have not been employed because DriveTech has reported that their driving attitude and control of the vehicle has been significantly below expectations.’

Every accident - both blameworthy and non-blameworthy - as well as near misses is investigated by ICI Dulux Trade Paints UK (Commercial Operations) and, if deemed necessary, employees are counselled and may undergo additional specific training programmes devised by DriveTech (UK).

The company, which bans the use of all mobile phones while driving, is now considering utilising DriveTech’s e-learning speed awareness module in its training schedule as well as the company’s driving licence check service.

DriveTech (UK) managing director Jim Kirkwood said: ‘The company has an exceptionally strong health and safety ethic and has embraced a raft of best practice recommendations that have contributed to a significant reduction in accidents.

‘The results are compelling and have significantly reduced driver risk - and costs - within the business. In the five years we have been working with the company, the number of miles driven by staff has increased 11%. However, the number of culpable accidents per 100,000 km has reduced from 0.42 to 0.09 and the number of non-culpable accidents from 0.34 to 0.19.

‘That is a record to be proud of and one that shows that pro-active fleet risk management can play a huge part in business efficiency.’

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About DriveTech (UK)
DriveTech is the UK's leading provider of 'driving at work' risk management, driver assessment and driver training solutions.

DriveTech's goal is to reduce both an organisation's vehicle business costs and the personal risk for 'at work' drivers, by significantly improving driver ABC - attitude, behaviour and competence - therefore supporting driver safety and corporate 'duty of care' requirements.

DriveTech (UK) has won the Institute of Transport Management's 'Fleet Award for Driver Training' in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

DriveTech (UK) can be contacted at enquiries@drivetech.co.uk, or via its website at www.drivetech.co.uk

For further information contact:

Ashley Martin (telephone 01733 390691) or Arthur Dalziel (01344 762890)

AWD Communications Ltd.

About Dulux Decorator Centres

Dulux Decorator Centres is the UK ’s specialist national network of decorating outlets to the trade. It provides one integrated solution for every decorating need - easy access to the most extensive range of Dulux Trade products and other major brands, over 15,000 wallcoverings, borders and fabrics and a vast range of decorating accessories

Dulux Decorator Centres combine the benefits of national presence and

resources, with local attention to detail and personalised service. It has more 150 outlets across the UK , from Penzance to Inverness , Londonderry to Norwich

For more information about Dulux Decorator Centres, please contact Neil Coffey at BANC on 01865 310 565