A MAJOR UK fleet is putting safety before cost-cutting and will instruct its drivers to comply with Peugeot's old service schedules, rather than the marque's new extended intervals. These come into effect for Peugeot vehicles registered after August 1, and will increase service intervals from 9,000 to 20,000 miles on petrol models, and from 6,000 to 10,000 miles on diesel models.

New synthetic engine oils have facilitated the longer intervals, but the National Franchised Dealers Association has criticised the move, saying there was more to a service than an oil change, and questioning the safety implications of cars being examined by a mechanic just once every 20,000 miles.

NFDA director Alan Pulham said: 'With all the different styles of driver there just have to be different levels of wear and tear on brakes and other key components.'

Arnold Bailey, Peugeot's manager of fleet marketing, said vehicles were not expected to go the full 20,000 miles without a check, since drivers can take their cars into franchised dealerships for a free fluid levels check and top-up in between services. And secondly, Peugeot garages are offering a 30-minute safety check in which they inspected a vehicle's lights, brakes and tyres for the price of half an hour of labour (a fee which depends on the prevailing labour rate in the workshop).