Aviva, in partnership with the road safety association Prévention Routière, has launched the Corporate Citizens on the Road charter, which is intended to give companies in the road transport sector that are also clients of Aviva Assurances a methodological framework to reduce.
Aviva, in partnership with the road safety association Prévention Routière, has launched the Corporate Citizens on the Road charter, which is intended to give companies in the road transport sector that are also clients of Aviva Assurances a methodological framework to reduce:
- Road risk (including loading and unloading operations), which are the largest cause of fatal occupational accidents;
- CO2 emissions, to contribute to improving the overall environmental performance of the road transport sector.
Aviva hopes that 50% of its existing clients and 60% of new clients will sign up to the charter over the next three years. For the signatory transport operators, the company aims to reduce the number of accidents and encourage an increasing number of drivers to behave responsibly.
Operators that agree to comply with the principles of the charter must reduce fuel consumption. Moreover, improvements in road risk will be reflected in Aviva's premiums.
This move, which aims to promote responsible road use in the sector, is part of Aviva's sustainable development policy. Sustainable development, safety and commercial efficiency are the three pillars of Aviva's business policy for 2009.
Aviva supports transport operators that want to reduce risks and their ecological footprint.
1. Progressive, reciprocal commitments with signatories
The charter is signed by the representative of the firm and the Aviva Assurances general agent during a working meeting (half or whole day, depending on the size of the fleet). When the charter is signed, the representative and agent agree on the level of commitment and support (the charter, enclosed, offers 5 levels) and set annual targets for the drivers.
2. Methodological tools available to fleet managers
Participant companies are provided with IT tools and documents, free of charge, in the first year. These tools and documents are the fruit of extensive work synthesising existing data and experiments carried out by Aviva Assurances and Prévention Routière.
The kit comprises:
- The charter (enclosed)
- A program for gathering information linked to claim rates
- A program for assessing road risks
- A series of educational materials
- Posters presenting detailed information about the various actions that can be implemented to reduce road risk
- A program for producing personalised educational materials
- A collection of stickers for company vehicles
3. The "Golden palm of the order of road transport companies" awarded to exemplary fleets
In order to encourage responsible behaviour, Aviva rewards drivers and transport companies that demonstrate their commitment to improving road safety. Aviva Assurances organises regional award ceremonies, in collaboration with the signatory firm, the Aviva general agent and the regional committee of Prévention Routière. The "Golden palm of the order of road transport companies" rewards fleets that have made concrete progress.
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Press contacts:
Prévention Routière
Thomas Le Quellec
Telephone: +33 (0)1 4415 2779
E-mail: t.lequellec@preventionroutiere.asso.fr
Aviva Assurances
Fanny Dieval
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 7967
E-mail: fanny_dieval@aviva.fr
HDL for Aviva Assurances
Nicolas Faget
Telephone: +33 (0)1 5865 2017
E-mail: nfaget@hdlcom.com
Notes to editors:
The Palms of the Order of the Driver
Created in 1962 by the road safety association Prévention Routière, the Order of the Driver is designed to reward members of the association who, by acting carefully and responsibly at the wheel, demonstrate their commitment to improving safety on the roads. To date, some 100,000 people have been awarded a Palm of the Order of the Driver.
This distinction is bestowed upon road transport companies that are Aviva clients and members of Prévention Routière, and enables them to reward their drivers and base staff, or even win an award themselves by submitting an application to a jury.
Two prizes have been created to reward drivers: the first is for professional heavy transport drivers and the second is for other members of the firm (base staff).
The Golden Palm of the Driver is awarded according to precise regulations, taking into account number of years in the profession or number of kilometres driven without causing a bodily injury accident or having the driving licence withdrawn.
The Palms of the Order of Salaried Base Staff offer six different levels of distinction:
Bronze Palm: Five years of driving or at least 50,000 km driven
Silver Palm: 10 years of driving or at least 200,000 km driven
Golden Palm: 25 years of driving or at least 500,000 km driven
Platinum Palm: 40 years of driving or at least 1,200,000 km driven
Diamond Palm: Platinum Palm for at least two years
Grand Medal: Platinum Palm for at least 3 years
The Palms of the Order of the Heavy Transport Driver offer six different levels of distinction:
Bronze Palm: Five years of driving or at least 300,000 km driven
Silver Palm: 10 years of driving or at least 600,000 km driven
Golden Palm: 15 years of driving or at least 1,000,000 km driven
Platinum Palm: 20 years of driving or at least 1,250,000 km driven
Diamond Palm: 30 years of driving or at least 1,500,000 km driven
Grand Medal: Diamond Palm when the driver retires
A third distinction has also been created: the Palm of the Order of Road Transport Companies. It can be awarded to a road transport firm that is a client of Aviva and a member of Prévention Routière if the firm has not been responsible for any bodily injury accidents during the financial year and undertakes to:
- Implement a road risk prevention plan, backed up by appropriate internal communication;
- Incorporate into the internal regulations of the firm rules regarding the behaviour of drivers at the wheel (compliance with driving times, absolute ban on using telephones while driving, etc);
- Equip the entire vehicle fleet with road safety equipment (retro-reflective markings, underride guards, blind-spot mirrors, etc).
The partners
Aviva
With more than 300 years' experience, Aviva is a global insurer of European origin: it is the leading provider of life insurance and pension products in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, particularly in North America and Asia, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2007. Aviva's principal business activities are life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with total sales of €56.7 billion and €455 billion of assets under management at 30 June 2008.
With more than 180 years' experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France operates a balanced multi-distribution model based on a comprehensive range of products, mainly intended for individuals and SMEs. Some 900 general agents, 1,800 branch staff, 400 life insurance advisers, almost 900 wealth management advisers (Union Financière de France) and more than 1,000 active partner brokers are at the service of 3 million clients every day.
Aviva has developed unique expertise in building effective partnerships for the benefit of its clients, particularly with AFER, the largest savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord, Société Générale, Ford and Médéric groups. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds, the quality and innovation of its products, and solid commitment to its customers through its Good Advice approach.
Aviva France is a socially responsible company and has developed initiatives that include reducing and neutralising its CO2 emissions, supporting more than 250 projects to help children and the elderly through the Aviva Foundation, and implementing an acclaimed diversity policy. The Aviva Group directly employs more than 4,700 staff in France. At 31 December 2007, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.5 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €338 million. The company managed assets worth €71.4 billion at 30 June 2008.
Prévention Routière
A non-profit organisation, recognised as a public utility since 1955, Prévention Routière has set itself the mission of reducing the number and seriousness of road accidents. To achieve that, it conducts studies, assigns resources and promotes initiatives with the aim of improving road safety and changing the behaviour of road users.
As part of this work, 1,350,000 children and teenagers take part in road safety sessions every year. Prévention Routière has trained a huge team of road safety instructors to carry out its work in schools (456 instructors were trained in 2007).
Each year, 36,000 drivers take part in awareness courses organised within the framework of the driving-licence points system, as an alternative to legal action or within the framework of criminal proceedings.
Prévention Routière also organises voluntary refresher courses for senior drivers.
It offers companies concrete solutions to reduce their traffic risks (analysis and management of road risk, raising staff awareness, training drivers).
Finally, Prévention Routière's publicity campaigns, leaflets and brochures reach several million people in France every year.
130,000 members and donors, including 15,000 firms, currently support the work of Prévention Routière. Membership fees account for a third of the association's budget, with the remainder coming from grants from insurance companies and local authorities.
101 regional committees continue national campaigns at the local level and organise their own prevention activities. Each committee has a network of volunteers.
To find out more, visit: www.preventionroutiere.asso.fr