Company car drivers admit they are more likely to break law
Thu, 20 Apr 2023
A new report by UK road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has highlighted the number of drivers who believe it is acceptable to drive under the influence of drink and drugs.
The survey, which questioned 2010 UK motorists on their attitudes towards road safety, found that 31% of those driving for work believed it was acceptable to drive after using Class A drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. This compares to just 5% of non-company car drivers.
The research also revealed that 26% of respondents felt it was acceptable to drive when they may have drunk too much alcohol. Meanwhile 24% would drive after using cannabis. In both cases, only 5% of non-company car drivers felt it was acceptable.
IAM RoadSmart’s Driving Safety Culture Report highlighted the differences between motorists driving for work and non-company car drivers.
It found that 21% of company car drivers had regularly or often ignored a red light within a 30-day window, compared to just 3% of other drivers.
The research also found that 21% of at-work drivers often read a text or email while driving, compared to 3% of other drivers.
Even more concerning, 19% said they often typed or sent a text while driving (compared to 2% of non-company car drivers).
The latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed that up to a third of all road incidents involve someone who is at work at the time, which could account for over 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week.
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, expressed concern over the findings, saying: "It is incredibly concerning that this latest research shows we still have far too many drivers who don’t understand the dangers of driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, and not acknowledging the danger they pose to themselves."
Greig added that by choosing to ignore key safety features like red lights or even using social media whilst driving, you are putting yourself at much higher risk of being involved in a crash.
"With a third of all incidents involving people driving for work on UK roads, businesses also need to hold themselves accountable for the responsibility they play in keeping their workers and other road users safe," he added.
IAM RoadSmart is calling on all fleet managers to adopt best practices, such as checking licenses, monitoring driver performance, and offering coaching to their most high-risk drivers.
The charity believes that these measures will not only save lives but also bring a direct benefit to the profitability and competitiveness of hard-pressed UK businesses.
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