FLEET CASE STUDY |
 Each driver initially undertakes an individual driving assessment that identifies their risk level while driving |
Fast-fit company ATS Euromaster is raising the bar in employee safety, following the introduction of an innovative Safe2Drive scheme for all employees who drive while at work.
The move will ensure 4,000 employees will have their driving skills individually assessed and, where necessary, improved to ensure they become more advanced and safer drivers technically, practically and behaviourally. Viewed as a major investment in employee safety, the scheme, says ATS Euromaster, is another example of how the company delivers its promise of ensuring customer safety and mobility is adhered to throughout its entire operation.
Concerned at the risk of its employees being involved in road incidents while behind the wheel on business, ATS Euromaster recruited DriveTech (UK), a company that specialises in reducing occupational road risk and improving driving standards. DriveTech’s role has been to define and deliver assessment and training to ensure ATS Euromaster employees can minimise the risk of collisions and other incidents happening. Together they designed a rolling programme to assess employees’ driving skills, which is due for completion by mid-2007.
Initially, each driver undertakes an individual driving assessment that identifies their risk level while driving, based on their attitude, knowledge and driving history. This is then supported by a driving licence check, through the DVLA, to confirm their entitlement to drive. Once the driver’s risk level has been identified – low, medium and high – different follow-up activities are instigated. Drivers identified as “low risk” are presented with their ATS Euromaster “Permit to Drive”, “medium risk” drivers undergo driving workshops to sharpen their driving skills, and those identified as “high risk” work with DriveTech’s team of instructors and undertake practical on-the-road driver training to improve their driving standards.
| “Statistics show driving a vehicle at work is one of the UK’s most dangerous business activities” |
Léon Atkins, ATS Euromaster’s group health, safety and corporate affairs director, sponsored the initiative and was one of the first to receive his “Permit to Drive”. He says: “Statistics show driving a vehicle at work is one of the UK’s most dangerous business activities. ATS Euromaster has thousands of employees covering countless miles every year and I for one do not want any of us to become one of those statistics. “ATS Euromaster is a high-profile employer and while accidents will always occur, it is imperative we have in place measures to reduce the potential for injury among our employees. Working with DriveTech has enabled us to come up with a constructive programme whereby everyone benefits.
“There is no test involved so there won’t be any failures, just improvement all round in driving abilities.” Jim Kirkwood, managing director at DriveTech, adds: “ATS Euromaster is clearly at the forefront of reducing occupational road risk for their employees, their customers and the communities in which they operate. I believe the Safe2Drive scheme will form the benchmark for businesses that wish to reduce road risk across multiple operational facilities throughout the UK.”
Based in Birmingham, ATS Euromaster is the UK arm of Euromaster Group, which operates in 10 European countries and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michelin Group. It has more than 530 centres all over the UK and provides services for the retail sector as well as fleets, fitting tyres, brakes, batteries, shock absorbers and exhausts and offering MoT testing. Last year ATS Euromaster introduced a car choice policy that stipulated that only vehicles with five-star European New Car Assessment Programme crash test ratings could be chosen. (RoadSafe: summer 2005).
