EUROPE'S second largest insurance company, AXA-UAP, has teamed up with BSM Fleet Training to offer fleets free 'health checks'. AXA is just the latest in a string of major insurance companies to form a partnership with BSM, giving fleets free risk management advice, discounted driver training and insurance premium rebates.

BSM Fleet Training's network of insurers now includes three of the UK's top five fleet insurers, Royal Sun Alliance, Commercial Union and Guardian. The AXA programme is aimed at fleets running 50 or more vehicles and offers driver training discounts of £20 per driver, plus performance-related savings on insurance renewals and 5% and 10% rebates to subsidise the cost of training.

AXA will offer its fleet customers a free risk 'health check' undertaken by a BSM consultant who will present the fleet manager with recommendations on measures to reduce the risk of fleet losses. Between 50% to 60% of company car drivers will be in accidents during the next 12 months, with the average repair bill at £650, so BSM says it is in insurers' best interests to join the network and give fleets incentives to reduce this figure.

BSM Fleet Training managing director Chris Reynolds said: 'It's all about risk and hazard perception. Cars don't go out of control, people do. We are not teaching them to drive - the skills are all there. It's the attitude which leads to the accident. 'All credit should go to the insurance industry. It is waking up to the problem and realising it is down to it to try to do something about it. The momentum is certainly building.'