London, 26 November 2009
Marsh, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser, today announced that it had reached an agreement with UDrive Solutions to offer its comprehensive range of driver and fleet assurance products to Marsh’s clients, initially in the UK. These UDrive Solutions products will be available exclusively to Marsh clients.

UDrive Solutions provides a comprehensive set of innovative and powerful vehicle, driver and motor fleet assurance products, offering a high-quality, cost-effective range of fully-insured packages to consumers and businesses.

UDrive Solutions has designed three distinct product packages which are available exclusively through Marsh to facilitate the management and functionality of all fleet operations:
• UDrive Advantage features a range of products that enable companies to ensure they are compliant with latest health and safety legislation in relation to both company-owned and employee-owned vehicles and their drivers
• UDrive Solutions Advantage Plus offers a range of insurance products protecting clients from unknown costs and exposures, such as GAP insurance, excess cover, tyre insurance and loss of keys
• UDrive Solutions Advantage Extra provides a high-quality maintenance and service offering at a low, fixed price
• Optional products available with any of the three main packages:
- Ding & Dent: smart repair service
- Roadside Recovery: comprehensive package

Commenting on the announcement, Kevin Nicol, Development Director at Marsh, said: “As a result of UK legislation, such as the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act and updates to the Health and Safety at Work Act, company directors can now be held personally responsible for injuries an employee sustains while driving at work, regardless of whether the employee is driving a company car or their own vehicle.

"This is particularly the case if a driver’s training or the vehicle’s roadworthiness is called into question. Successful prosecutions can result in unlimited personal fines and custodial sentences in certain cases.

"The UDrive Solutions packages, available only through Marsh, can help companies ensure they are compliant with relevant legislation, freeing up directors and their employees to go about their day-to-day business.”

Automotive insurance industry veteran Bob Blacklee, founder and CEO of UDrive Solutions, said: “I passionately believe that the UK marketplace needs a different approach to the management of motor expenses, and that the consumer is, by and large, hard done by.

"In putting this exclusive package together with Marsh we have sought to redress this, while at the same time helping to reduce the number and severity of road traffic accidents throughout the UK by ensuring that vehicles are safe and fit for purpose at all times. Our joint approach, together with the significant cost savings which UDrive Solutions delivers, makes for a very compelling, compliant and cost-effective fleet proposition.”