Representatives from insurers including AIG, AXA, RSA and brokers such as JLT and Willis attended the session to discuss how government advisory bodies and the insurance industry can work together to achieve accident reduction on UK roads.

The discussion focussed on the role of technology in helping to reduce road incidents and how insurers can offer competitive rates to fleets whilst not making a loss.

Glen Mullins, managing director of VUE, said: ‘Ultimately, there is a need to reduce risk on the roads in order for competitively priced insurance to be offered to fleet operators. We know from our own customers that since installing CCTV and telematics in commercial vehicles and providing evidence-based driver training, accident rates have dropped – improving the risk profile. The challenge for the industry is to educate fleet operators on the benefits of changing driver behaviour and make sure there are incentives to do it.’

David Davies, executive director of PACTS, said: ‘There is a gap between the Government, insurers and the end users. We need to come together to achieve greater synergy between the efforts of these groups in order to reduce crashes which are costly to business and casualties which can be tragic. Potential changes to regulations, such as the introduction of different licences for those driving commercial vehicles, mandatory training for those who drive for work and higher safety vehicle specifications were discussed. The group also explored the need for a stronger health and safety culture towards managing occupational road risk.’

Mullins added: ‘It was clear from feedback around the table that educating everybody on using technology as part of improving a driver’s behaviour behind the wheel is critical in achieving the collective objective of improving road safety and reducing risk. We’ll continue working with insurers and government advisers on how best to use the technology available.’