DriveTech adds new dimension to the GM UK Fleet proposition

28 August 2008

DriveTech, the leading independent provider of driver-safety related services to the corporate sector, is to work in partnership with GM UK Fleet to enable its clients to take advantage of DriveTech’s wide range of driver risk and fleet running cost-reducing services.

This news comes shortly after GM UK Fleet’s recent commitment to support the Department for Transport’s ‘Driving for Better Business’ initiative, which is aiming to promote the virtues of, and business case for, targeted driver risk management programmes*. Such programmes can save money and assist with duty of care compliance, the latter being particularly relevant in the light of the enactment of the revised Corporate Manslaughter Bill on April 6th.

DriveTech Managing Director, Jim Kirkwood, commented: “We are greatly looking forward to offering our expertise alongside the GM UK Fleet team. Driving down road risk and related fleet running costs should be of great concern to anybody responsible for vehicle fleets, irrespective of whether the vehicles are company funded or not. With our wide range of FleetSafe products and services we are confident of being able to demonstrate quantifiable benefits to GM UK Fleet customers, in whatever commercial sector they operate.”

As part of its commitment to the partnership, DriveTech will be buying up to 250 Corsa SXi models over the next 18 months for its newly launched ‘Advantage’ learner driver training programme.

Companies wishing to explore the new driver risk management opportunities on offer through DriveTech should either contact GM Fleet UK call centre on 0870 010 0651 (email gmukfleet@uk.gm.com) or FleetSafe Account Development Manager, Kelly Robertson, on 01344 467886 (email fleetsafe@drivetech.co.uk).

DriveTech can provide:

• On-road practical defensive driver training for drivers of cars, vans, minibuses, trucks
• Eco Driving Courses
• Post incident confidence building courses
• Off-road specialist driver training
• Crash Analysis Consultancy
• Online driver risk assessment and profiling
• Online E-Learning modules
• Driver education and improvement workshops
• A driving licence checking service
• Corporate risk assessments (essentially procedural and regulatory compliance)
• In-house assessor training
• High Performance Vehicle Control courses
• Educationally-orientated driving events
• Driver safety-related news service

DriveTech is also the delivery agency for over 20 police diversionary schemes across the UK, where drivers committing some traffic offences can attend a workshop in preference to paying the fine and taking the points on their licence.

Further information about all the DriveTech brands please refer to www.drivetech.co.uk

For further information, members of the media should contact
Steve Johnson on direct line +44 (0)1789 414700, mobile +44 (0)7894 621134 or on steve.johnson@drivetech.co.uk

Editor's Notes

*Some 1000 fatalities per annum are caused as a result of the involvement of a driver who was ‘at work’ at the time. This makes driving the most dangerous at work activity of all.

DriveTech (UK) plc is one of the UK’s leading providers of road risk management, driver assessment and education. We work both with organisations whose employees ‘drive for work’ and with members of the public, who are offered education as an alternative to prosecution by the police.

DriveTech’s vision is ‘working together to eliminate road death and serious injuries’ by providing the most effective and innovative solutions, using education and technology, to minimise risk for all road users.

DriveTech (UK) has won the Institute of Transport Management’s (ITM) ‘Fleet Award for Driver Training’ in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the ‘European Driver Safety Specialist’ award in 2005. In September 2007, it was named the ITM’s ‘UK Driver Training Solutions Specialist’ for making ‘the most significant impact upon the Driver Training and Safety sector over the past decade’

In 2007, DriveTech (UK) won the South England and South Wales regional award of the Bank of Scotland Corporate ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ of up to £5m, interest-free funding and was runner-up in the national Grand Finale. In addition, the company was named runner-up in the 2007 Thames Valley ‘Business of the Year’ award.