Pictured: Guests say cheers as they test an array of non alcoholic beers and wines as part of a don't drink and drive warning

Midlands employers must ensure they educate staff who drive as part of their job, warned the director of the Institute of Directors for the West Midlands.

John Phillips spoke out after their latest meeting was held at Shropshire business driver trainers TTC Automotive, part of the TTC Group, which is the UK's leading educator of motorists.

"As directors we can be liable in the case of a serious accident at work if we have not educated our staff," said Mr Phillips.

"We must also include all the relevant information in employment contracts."

He said it was "unusual" for them to hold their meeting at such a venue but employee driver safety was a difficult subject which needed to be looked at in detail.

"It is massively relevant to businesses. As employers we are responsible for people who drive for us."

Members of the I.O.D, which advises companies on their liabilities, were attending the meeting at the TTC Group premises which were opened by the Princess Royal in Telford, Shropshire.

Alcohol, drugs, speed fatigue and driver distractions were the cause of many road crashes, said Simon Baugh, director of TTC Automotive, of Hadley Park, Telford, which educates the corporate sector including running mandatory driver CPC training for lorry, bus and other professional drivers as well as motorists who drive for work.

He described the "minefield" for employers over their duty of care responsibilities such as  the problem of an employee driving for work the next day while still impaired from alcohol consumed the night before.

A total of 17 per cent of drivers who volunteered to attend a drink drive rehabilitation course run by TTC were caught the next day, he revealed.

Five people die every day in crashes on UK roads, including business drivers.

The interactive meeting involved directors testing an array of alcohol free beers and wines.

Businessman Mark Luckman, of the bestoftelford, praised one bottled stout saying: "I could imagine having a pint of that. It's a nice drink and I'm sure many people would not know it was alcohol free and it would mean you were not taking a risk to drive afterwards."

The TTC Group trains thousands of drivers across the UK each year on a variety of courses - many on behalf of police and councils - and all aimed at reducing the death and injury toll on the roads.

The meeting was organised after a member of the Institute, who works in the banking sector, was so impressed after attending a TTC corporate driver education course that he recommended it to his colleagues.

For more information on the TTC Group visit www.ttc-uk.com or  www.ttcautomotive.co.uk or call TTC Automotive on 033 3800 0222 or email driver.training@ttcautomotive.co.uk.