In a context in which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that it believes some 1.3 million persons die annually as a result of road accidents across the globe, fleet management specialist ARI has been pointing out some of the things fleets can do to help alleviate this situation. The company explains that a fleet manager cannot control accident avoidance, only influence it. It is therefore the fleet manager’s job to pick the best drivers, train them accordingly and have a plan in place for when accidents do happen.  ARI also believes that much of the preventative work comes before a driver ever gets behind the wheel of the company vehicle. ‘With lawsuits on the rise, it’s critical that businesses make sure they’re putting qualified and licensed drivers in their vehicles. The NHTSA estimates that nearly 18% of fatal accidents involve improperly licensed drivers. Employers should check driving records for potential employees before hiring.  Many fleet management companies, including ARI, offer Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) ordering and retrieval system’. On-going  driver training and vehicle checks are also a necessity.