1st June 2010

TRAINING PROGRAMME DRIVES DOWN ACCIDENT RATES AS HERMES ACHIEVES BUSINESS CHAMPION STATUS

Hermes has reduced accident rates across its fleet operation by more than 40 per cent, following the introduction of a range of driver training initiatives designed to cut road deaths and injuries. These safer driving measures have contributed to fleet savings of £1 million in the past twelve months and led to the company achieving Business Champion status from the Government-backed Driving for Better Business campaign, managed by Roadsafe.

The Hermes Driving School has been key to achieving the financial savings and health and safety improvements, playing a critical role in ensuring that the company's 480 employed and 163 agency drivers meet its industry-leading safe driving standards. As a result, there has been a 109 per cent improvement in accident-free days per vehicle; a 47 per cent improvement in the accident rate per vehicle; a 41.8 per cent reduction in the number of recorded accidents; and a 33.5 per cent cut in the cost of incidents.

The reduction in accidents has meant that the number of insurance claims related to vehicle damage has also reduced by 60 per cent and UK insurance premiums dropped by 10 per cent in the last 10 months. Meanwhile, the focus on 'smarter' driving has contributed to at least a 4.5 per cent reduction in fuel consumption in the past year. This has resulted in significant cost savings and delivered a positive impact towards reducing Hermes' carbon footprint.

Carole Woodhead, Chief Executive of Hermes in the UK commented: "We are delighted that our concerted focus on at-work driving safety has been recognised by the Driving for Better Business campaign. The catalyst of change has been our Driving School, which has delivered enormous benefits in terms of greater business responsibility and is central to delivering superior customer service, revenue and business growth."

The Hermes Driving School provides induction and continuation training for drivers with a focus on safe-driving and encouraging employees to drive fuel-efficiently. All drivers receive an initial induction course with both in-vehicle and classroom sessions, followed by ongoing corporate training programmes delivered by the Driving School and one-to-one in-vehicle coaching conducted by depot champions, to deliver continued performance improvements.

The success of the Driving School has now prompted an internal review to examine whether to expand the courses and programmes provided, as well as offering training solutions to other businesses and professional organisations. Core courses currently include driver assessment and induction, Certificate of Professional Competence, safe and fuel efficient driving, driver hours and an annual practical in-cab driver refresher.

Michael Parish, programme consultant for the Driving for Better Business campaign, said: "Cutting costs is the number one priority facing all businesses and Hermes has shown that through a focused occupational road risk management programme hundreds of thousands of pounds can be saved. Simultaneously, the company has improved its business efficiency, its image and the welfare of its employees."

"We are delighted that Hermes is considering opening its Driving School to other organisations as that is exactly the approach that the campaign is seeking to encourage. We all share the road and the campaign is all about businesses working together and sharing best practice."

There are up to 200 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at work drivers, and more employees are killed and seriously injured on Britain's roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity. The Driving for Better Business campaign was formally launched in April 2007 by RoadSafe and now has 43 Business Champions made up of some of the UK's leading companies and organisations.

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