Skip to main content

UK van drivers drive more carefully in their personal vehicles

A new study by TomTom indicates that more than a third (39 per cent) of UK van drivers admit to driving more carefully when using their personal vehicle. The research, conducted among light commercial vehicle (LCV) drivers, found 67 per cent of those did so to save money on fuel and vehicle wear and tear and 29 per cent because of the absence of working time pressures.
September 13, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A new study by 1692 TomTom indicates that more than a third (39 per cent) of UK van drivers admit to driving more carefully when using their personal vehicle.

The research, conducted among light commercial vehicle (LCV) drivers, found 67 per cent of those did so to save money on fuel and vehicle wear and tear and 29 per cent because of the absence of working time pressures.

In addition, 59 per cent said they were more likely to speed or take risks in their work vehicles as a result of working time pressures.

The study also found that three-quarters (75 per cent) of respondents admit to speeding in their work vehicles, with 24 per cent doing so regularly.

However, only 20 per cent of respondents said their company provides training to help them drive more safely and efficiently and just 35 per cent claim their employers use technology to monitor driving performance and fuel efficiency.

“A significant proportion of at-work drivers demonstrate clear awareness of the benefits of safe, efficient driving, which is applied in their personal vehicles – but working pressures are adversely affecting performance,” said Thomas Schmidt, TomTom Business Solutions’ Managing Director. “The onus is on employers to take action by encouraging higher standards behind the wheel and minimising the time pressures facing mobile workers.”

“Appropriate fleet management technology can play a major role in this, offering clear management information and helping to raise awareness of responsible driving by providing real-time feedback to drivers. This not only provides transparency on performance standards being measured but can also help companies target driver training where it is most needed,” said Schmidt

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • HGVs without safety equipment to be banned from London
    February 6, 2015
    Britain’s first Safer Lorry Scheme, a London-wide ban on any lorry not fitted with safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians, has been given the go ahead by the mayor, Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils. The scheme received 90 per cent support in a public consultation Traffic orders implementing the scheme are currently being published. Installation of road signs at the London boundary, training of police officers and information campaigns with drivers and hauliers have all started
  • HGVs without safety equipment to be banned from London
    February 6, 2015
    Britain’s first Safer Lorry Scheme, a London-wide ban on any lorry not fitted with safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians, has been given the go ahead by the mayor, Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils. The scheme received 90 per cent support in a public consultation Traffic orders implementing the scheme are currently being published. Installation of road signs at the London boundary, training of police officers and information campaigns with drivers and hauliers have all started
  • Advances in real time traffic and travel information
    March 16, 2012
    David Crawford admires TomTom’s flying start to 2012. Gobal location and navigation equipment supplier TomTom rang in 2012 with two strategically important announcements. First was the signing of a deal with Korean electronics giant Samsung, representing an important consolidation of its position in the consumer market. Under this agreement, TomTom maps and location content will power the Samsung Wave3 smartphone, launched in autumn 2011. TomTom data will support navigation and search-and-find applications
  • Progressing work zone safety systems
    February 1, 2012
    David Crawford investigates progress in a key safety area - work zones. Highway construction zone safety is taken seriously enough in the US to merit a special spring National Work Zone Awareness Week, which in 2010 ran from 19-23 April. Headed by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), this aims to reduce an annual toll of work zone deaths - 720 in 2008 (an average of one every 10 hours) with more than 40,000 traffic injuries (an average of one every 13 minutes).