Professional drivers most culpable of causing road traffic accidents

Published: 20/02/2013

People who are required to drive as part of their jobs are up to 40 per cent more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident than people who are driving in their own time.

Research from Brake and Direct Line revealed such drivers are regularly endangering their own lives and those of other road users.

31 per cent of business drivers confessed to sending text messages whilst behind the wheel while more than 75 per cent of those surveyed also admitted speeding in built up areas. Other offences included grooming, applying make-up and answering and making phone calls.

There are over 100 people injured in a road traffic accident caused by people driving for work including 10 fatalities each week. Julie Townsend is the Deputy Chief Executive at road safety charity Brake:

“It is appalling so many people who drive in a professional capacity are taking such horrendous and unnecessary risks, doing things we all know are unbelievably dangerous behind the wheel.

“People who drive as part of their job should be taking great care to stay within the law and not put people in danger, but according to these results, at-work drivers are more likely to take many deadly risks than other drivers.

“We are urging all employers to ensure they have comprehensive safe driving policies in place and that staff know the importance of not speeding or driving distracted. We are also calling on anyone who drives for work to make a commitment to stay within speed limits, stay off the phone, and focused on the critical task at hand.”

Content correct at time of publication