BT sees 40% cut in collision rates

The risk management organisation has been working with BT since 2002 to help the organisation improve its occupational road risk performance

During that time more than 50,000 BT drivers has completed the company’s online Virtual Fleet Risk Manager (VFRM) programme and follow-up training. BT uses the VFRM assessment to grade its drivers as ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’ risk. Those labelled as ‘high’ risk are automatically referred for training with IAM.

IAM Fleet’s focus has been on BT engineers, who drive the familiar white BT vans. To-date 3,500 drivers have been earmarked to undergo training specially developed for BT with more than 2,000 so far completing the course.

The training involves both interactive workshops and on-road assessment and tuition. The half-day workshops have been designed to raise driver awareness of the dangers they face on the roads, and are conducted at locations to suit BT. Within three weeks of undergoing an interactive workshop, candidates are required to participate in a half-day, on-road driving session.

This allows them to put their increased level of risk awareness into practice and to minimise their own exposure to danger on the road.

BT’s Dave Wallington said: “IAM Fleet’s training package has contributed signifi cantly towards the major cost savings we have achieved. The smooth integration of their services into our overall driver safety programme and their ability to meet our very specific needs have been the key elements of this success.”

IAM Milestones

1954 – John Boyd-Carpenter MP used a speech to suggest that a ‘higher standard of skill and proficiency on the part of the driver could help reduce the number of road accidents’.

1956 – The Institute of Advanced Motorists is formed by a group of motoring enthusiasts who wanted to promote a better standard of driving.

The founding members included Lord Sempill, who became the first chairman, Dudley Noble, motoring correspondent of the Financial Times, and Stanley Roberts, founder of the British School of Motoring.

1956 – The first advanced test candidate after the founders was leading rally driver Sheila Van Damm. More than 5,000 people a year were killed on the roads. The figure has reduced to about 3,200 – but has passed almost 8,000 on the way.

1957 – First local IAM group formed in Nottingham.

1959 – The 10,000th person to pass an advanced test is enrolled.

1961 – The IAM moves from its original home in Kensington, south west London, to Chiswick, where its headquarters remain today although in different premises.

1966 – The 60,000th person to pass an advanced test joins

1967 – The first ‘Advanced Motoring’ manual is published. Today it is titled ‘How to be an Advanced Driver’.

1971 – The voluntary retest is introduced for those who want to check their driving ability has not slipped since passing the advanced test. Now known as the IAM Driving Assessment

1972 – F1 driver Graham Hill becomes the first in a line of racing drivers to be elected to the IAM’s Council. The latest racing driver IAM recruit is recently elected president and ex-F1 world champion Nigel Mansell.

1973 – A report by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory (now known as TRL) reveals that advanced drivers have a 50-75% lower accident rate than drivers who have not taken the advanced test, and a 25% lower accident rate than drivers who had taken the test but failed.

1975 – Government asks the IAM to contribute to policy deliberations, notably drink-driving investigations and a review of the Highway Code.

1976 - The advanced motorcycle test is introduced.

1978 – More than 200,000 people had taken the advanced test, with 129,000 passes.

1982 – Members required to sign an annual declaration concerning motoring convictions and licence holding.

1986 – IAM Fleet Training formed offering both classroom tuition and practical instruction in recognition of the growth of the company car market.

2000 – Every customer buying a new or used Daewoo qualified for an advanced driving course. That breakthrough since followed up by a partnership with Jaguar, which sees an IAM course offered to every new owner.

2001 – Agreed minimum standards laid down by Government for providers of the advanced test, of which the IAM is the largest, which are monitored by the Driving Standards Agency.

2005 – IAM acquires fleet risk management provider Drive & Survive.

2007 – IAM aquired Pro-Drive and launched the IAM Motoring Trust

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