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The Statistics

Over the last few years, increasingly more research has been carried out into road safety, and in particular to the proportion of the annual accident statistics taken up by work-related road crashes.

These are percentages of the overall road accident, injury and death rates shown to involve someone driving or using the road for work-related purposes, taken up to the most recently available figures.

The figures shown below are simple and shocking

  • 25% of ALL road accidents are work related
  • AT LEAST 26% of all road fatalities are work related
  • AT LEAST 17% of all road serious injuries are work related
  • AT LEAST 900 fatalities PER YEAR are work related
  • Around 20 fatalities PER WEEK are work related
  • Around 250 serious injuries PER WEEK are work related

It is generally thought that these figures, if anything, represent an understatement of the true dimensions of work-related driving accidents.

It is estimated that 1 in 3 company drivers will be involved in an accident each year

A detailed research project run jointly by the Department for Transport and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) found, amongst other things, that high work-mileage drivers showed a very high proportion of those who knowingly took risks, or were at risk, in a number of critical areas

  • Driving while highly fatigued, especially during the highest-risk time of the day (between 2pm and 5pm)
  • Using mobile telephones, whether hands free or otherwise
  • Eating or drinking whilst at the wheel
  • While under time pressure to reach meetings, make deliveries or reach destinations due to poor management and scheduling
  • While on a long journey after a full day at work
  • While searching for signs and directions in unfamiliar areas

Generally the research also found that poor management systems were blamed for increasing driver stress and for failing to deliver systems that will sufficiently inform driving risk assessments

It was found that the most critical factors leading to high risk and possible accidents were:

A staggering 35% of businesses don't even check their employees' licenses
  • Training
  • Fatigue
  • Pressure
  • Incident management
  • Communications

Detailed examination also found that, for the period of 1992 to 2001, whilst overall road fatalities have dropped, the proportion including the groups most likely to have work-related road accidents had not. In real terms, this means that the proportion of the total road fatality figures including work-related road users is increasing.

It is estimated that 1 in 3 company drivers will be involved in an accident each year.

For someone who is required, by virtue of their job, to drive a high number of work-related miles per year, the risk of dying in a road accident is significantly higher than the risk of dying from any other work related activity.

A separate TRL investigation in 1999 showed that company car drivers are between 30% and 50% more likely to have a road accident than other road users.

Research into related insurance claims shows the overall accident ratio to be, if anything, higher than the official figures, with up to 33% of all road traffic accidents involving someone at work at the time.

A well known owner of a large company once said:

"If you think safety is expensive,
try having an accident"

Consider the cost of one road death caused during a work-related road accident. Whilst the obvious costs of vehicle loss, staff loss and third party damages claims are obvious, the human cost is irretrievable. Vehicles and property can be replaced, human life cannot.

In addition, should it be found that the accident was as a result of management failure in some way, such as the company driver being put under unreasonable time pressure leading to stress and fatigue, then not only could the driver (if alive…) be prosecuted but under Corporate Manslaughter (and soon to be Corporate Killing) laws, so will your company.

Charges of manslaughter leading to unlimited fines and prison sentences can and have been implemented. It is your responsibility to take all of the necessary action under health and safety law to manage and eliminate as far as practical the risks associated with work-related driving.

Drivex Ltd has been established to help you achieve these ends. Fill in our online questionnaire now to find out exactly how much we can help you.