AN open door policy has been launched by the Fleet Driver Training Association in a bid to attract members from throughout the fleet industry. The ground-breaking decision was made at the association's annual meeting to allow a range of organisations to enter if they wished, ranging from trade bodies to pressure groups, road safety organisations, manufacturers, insurance companies, leasing and fleet management companies.

FDTA secretary Jonathan Craymer said: 'Fleet risk management and driver safety have become the transport issues of the decade, thanks to Government and Health and Safety Executive concern over the death and injury toll on the roads. In order to tackle the problem at source, the entire fleet industry has to work together. It was obvious to members of the FDTA that the association had to open its doors to other safety groups, companies and professionals in order to facilitate all-important dialogue.'

The FDTA aims to set up a number of meetings with interested groups, particularly the insurance industry, in the next few weeks. Organisers of the FDTA have been battling to win support throughout the industry since it effectively relaunched earlier this year. New leaders were appointed in February and charged with winning back industry confidence after a host of defections last year. It now has 18 members.