A new insurance scheme specifically for bus and coach companies has been launched.

The new programme has been set up by insurance broker Belmont International in conjunction with the GreenRoad Safety Centre and aims to reduce driver premiums over time.

Coach and car hire drivers at participating companies will be offered continuous real-time training to improve driving skills, which will provide the insurer with better fleet risk management data to negotiate better premiums.

David Hinton, deputy managing director at Belmont International remarked that the new scheme could be beneficial during the financial downturn.

He said: “At a time of financial uncertainty, with the potential for higher insurance premiums and fuel costs, we have been looking for ways to reduce the impact on our clients.

“With our GreenRoad proposition we have secured the support of leading insurers which will enable the delivery of this product and on going risk management advice.”

The scheme will focus on coach companies with a fleet of up to 100 vehicles.

Figures released by the Department of Transport show that the number of uninsured drivers on the UK’s roads has fallen by 0.7 per cent over the last two years.