Driving a motor vehicle is potentially the most hazardous activity a person will ever do. Yet the extent to most people's driver training consists of a few lessons from a relative, friend or neighbour, with the occasional lesson being sought from the local learner driving school to brush up on the necessary skills to pass the licence test. Frighteningly some even fall into the self-taught category.

Having been involved in post-licence driver development since 1972, I have been very privileged to see first-hand the link between driver development and attitude change and the significant impact this can have on driver awareness to reduce risk.

So the big question is why do we still see motor vehicle accidents occurring on regular basis, and inturn what can be done to make our roads a safer place?

One extreme viewpoint is to ban motor vehicles all together. Obviously, not a practical solution and one that would impact enormously on business and individual freedom.

Accidents occur due to one of three reasons - vehicle, environment or person. Within these realms lay many specific elements that affect performance, more of which will be reviewed in future columns.

Today, I would like to explore the organisation's cost of damage. Motor vehicle accident statistics don't lie. The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority is a prime example of the carnage that occurs on our roads everyday with 52,000 recorded accidents per annum. This is a figure that does not include the thousands of additional accidents that are not reported each year. Other states have equally high statistics as well.

However in terms of fleet management, it doesn't have to occur to such an extensive degree to result in dramatic loss. It can be as seemingly insignificant as those annoying dints and scratches that appear without responsibility, which will ultimately cost your business a fortune. When it comes to selling any vehicle, the condition determines the price.

Only recently I visited a motor auction where a large number of ex-fleet vehicles went under the hammer. If it was 'straight and tidy' the price was reflective of the condition and sold for a high price, however if the same model had paint and/or panel damage it achieved considerably less.

Many people will continually have differing views on the subject but debate is something that fuels progressive thought.

Sadly, road carnage and motor vehicle accident statistics are a fact of life and cannot be evaded. It is every employer's legal duty to provide a safe working environment, which extends to the use of motor vehicles.

I look forward to bringing you information about risk management and other safe driving strategies.

Ian