BRITISH business and communities would benefit dramatically if fleets introduced vehicle safety policies, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Department of Transport figures reveal the average cost of a fatal road accident in 1994 - the latest figures available - was £913,140 and there were 3,650 people killed on Britain's roads in that year.

Using DoT statistics RoSPA has calculated that staff required to cover substantial annual distances as part of their job face risks which put them near the top of the occupational risk league. Company car miles account for about 16% of the car miles driven in the UK and work-related road injuries resulting in staff taking three or more days off work are estimated to be about 3,000 a year by the Health & Safety Executive, which RoSPA believes in an underestimate.

RoSPA says: 'The average annual levels of fatal risk as a result of 'at work' vehicle use are likely to be substantially greater than the annual average levels of fatal risk faced by employees in general.'