AN INDUSTRY steering group is being set up to ensure companies do not abuse the How's My Driving? scheme by using it to knock employees' morale rather than to encourage safer driving. How's My Driving?, a sticker system which invites members of the public to phone in and comment on company drivers' standards, is two years old this month and is now used by just under 20,000 vehicles from more than 200 organisations.

However, How's My Driving? managing director Ross Smith said: 'Some companies may think they can use this information maliciously against drivers to get rid of them. They use it as a stick and we will not stand for that. The steering group has been set up to arbitrate in cases of alleged misuse and to examine the best ways to use the scheme.'

How's My driving? began life as a commercial venture, but is now a non profit-making organisation. It has been successfully used on commercial vehicles by organisations ranging from major companies to local councils and the organisation is now looking at producing stickers suitable for company cars. The steering group is to be chaired by safety consultant James Pritchard and includes representatives from fleet operators, safety groups such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and drivers' unions.