FLEETS are to play a key role in the Government's latest move to cut accidents, lower vehicle emissions, and reduce congestion - simply by cutting vehicle speeds. Transport minister Lord Whitty has unveiled plans for the Government's 'National Speed Review', which he says is crucial in developing an integrated transport strategy.

It will be about a year before the report is published, and the review will involve many companies being contacted by the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions, for their opinion on how fleet vehicle speeds can be reduced. This will follow the analysis of existing research into the effects of speed being carried out by the Government department. The final stage will be to draw conclusions and write the report, which is due to be published in January 2000.

Whitty said: 'In the near future we will be contacting companies and organisations who can make a valuable contribution to make sure that the final outcome is realistic and practical. To create a comprehensive and successful speed policy we need to see how it affects the economy, how much it will reduce vehicle emissions and improve people's quality of life.'