A LEADING Government figure has backed calls for fleet managers to take on responsibility for tackling congestion by providing alternatives to the car. Although the fleet industry leads the way in encouraging the use of cleaner fuels, more must be done to combat the amount of traffic on the roads, according to Andrew Burchell, director of the transport strategy directorate for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

He said the amount of traffic still on the nation's roads still needed to be controlled, even if it was getting cleaner and fleet managers could play a vital role. Speaking during Transport 2000's Transport Beyond the White Paper conference, he said: 'The problem is how vehicles are used. Fleet managers need to look at the logistics of the way their cars are used how they distribute the company's services.

'They need to check whether journeys need to be made and get alternatives to the car in place. You don't need draconian measures to do that, it is just about changing trends in behaviour. This must be combined with running fuel-efficient vehicles and cleaner fuels to achieve an overall effect.'