Northcliffe Newspapers has brought in a new driver training scheme to tackle rising accident costs. All company car drivers will take an online risk assessment. Risk will be calculated using factors such as age and business miles driven, and those deemed to be most exposed will take part in safety workshops and behind-the-wheel driver training.

After an initial pilot, the scheme, run by fleet provider Peak Performance, has been rolled out across the regional newspaper publisher's 1,300 company cars drivers and a further 200 staff that take a cash allowance. The company says the scheme will help it to meet its duty of care towards employees, as well as cut accident costs.