Safety training 'helps bring financial savings'

Date: 29/4/2010

Hermes, the home delivery company, witnessed cost savings of close to £1 million after introducing new safe driving measures for its workforce, it has been claimed.

The government-backed road safety organisation RoadSafe claimed that in the 12 months to April 2010, Hermes witnessed cost and efficiency benefits thanks in part to new safe driving initiatives.

When compared with the previous year, Hermes saw a 109 per cent improvement on accident-free days per vehicle and a 47 per cent improvement in the accident rate, RoadSafe said.

Across the company's commercial fleet, the number of recorded accidents fell from 620 to 361, RoadSafe adds.

"The development of Hermes employees and a focus on safety is central to delivering superior customer service, revenue and business growth," said Hermes chief executive Carole Woodhead.

RoadSafe is currently undertaking the Driving for Better Business campaign, as part of the Department for Transport's Driving for Work road safety strategy.