FLEETS could soon be left with little option on whether to adopt driver training as insurance companies Zurich and its subsidiary Eagle Star crack down on fleets with poor accident records. The companies, whose corporate operations have been merged into Zurich Commercial, are presenting some fleets with a 'do or die' option - either they take driver training or they will be asked to find their insurance elsewhere.

Peter Dower, Zurich Commercial's manager, technical solutions, says it is not often that the company takes a hard line with a fleet, but it will now do so if necessary. He added: 'There are several scenarios where we might recommend that a fleet undertakes driver training. The first is if there is a high frequency of fault claim accidents and it is clear that risk management is not being well managed.

'In this case the fleet can't be allowed to keep throwing money at increased premiums, and we will tell it to do something about it or take its risk elsewhere. The next, and more common, scenario is where we talk to fleets at renewal time and point out that premium savings can be made if training is undertaken.' If a fleet agreed to train all its drivers and demonstrates this to Zurich, the premium would be reduced.