Drivers make too many phone calls

Survey finds handheld use is increasing

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 10 May 2005 / Loading comments

There's too much of this, finds survey

Expect to see more cars weaving around under minimal control at 80mph. According to a survey by a car finance company, drivers are getting complacent about using a hand held mobile phone while driving, even though it has been illegal since December 2003.

Over 60 per cent admitted to taking or making a call on a hand held mobile phone over the last 12 months, and 36 per cent thought that doing so had no effect on their driving. That compares to just four per cent this time last year.

Across all drivers (both those using hands free and hand held mobiles), 93 per cent in 2004 stated that taking and making calls on a hand held mobile phone had an adverse effect on their driving – perhaps an immediate reaction to the new legalisation which made using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving illegal. Despite the legislation, only 41 per cent now believe using a hand held mobile phone puts their driving in danger.

Employers' responsibilities

According to the report, employers are making progress on implementing a policy on the use of mobile phones while driving. Eighty-one per cent of drivers are aware of their employer’s policy on the use of mobile phones while driving. Companies have more to do, finds the survey.

42 per cent of drivers have between 1 and 10+ points on their licence
68 per cent of employers have never checked their employees driving licence or if they did it was only when they first joined the company
84 per cent have not given employees a driver training policy despite 49 per cent of drivers saying they would find it beneficial
51 per cent of companies do not penalise drivers who cause accidents

The survey was commissioned by Bank of Scotland's car loan section, whose head Graham Hale said, "With the recent publication of the draft version of the corporate manslaughter bill, employers would be wise to ensure that employees have safe working practices and that company cars are in a safe condition.

"The financial case for introducing risk management measures, whether it’s driver training or looking at journey times and schedules in an effort to reduce mileage, is clear. Accidents are a significant proportion of the cost of a running company cars and the true cost of accidents – time off work through injury, disruption to work patterns – can represent a considerable loss for a business."

British work too hard

The survey also found that Brits work longer hours than ever, many of them behind the wheel. In the last 12 months those questioned said that their business mileage had increased by over 30 per cent compared to this time last year.

The average worker now drives 17,488 miles a year on business – the equivalent of driving from Lands End to John O’ Groats over 20 times a year. When asked how many hours they spent driving on company business each week, over 30 per cent of drivers admitted to spending between 20 and 30 hours a week behind the wheel.

Six per cent of drivers admitted to spending over 30 hours a week driving on company business
Eighteen per cent of drivers spend over 15 hours a week commuting. Twenty per cent say that the time they spend commuting had increased over the last 12 months
The total miles driven over the last year (including private mileage) is 25,905 miles

The news reinforces the long standing belief that British people work longer hours, pay higher taxes and have a lower standard of living than workers in other European countries.

Other results showed that 61 per cent of drivers regularly break the 70 mph speed limit on the motorway as they rush to fit in more and more business meetings. Eighty-eight per cent of those questioned think that pressures of work, or being late for appointments make them drive faster or less safely, and over 58 per cent admit to not taking a break every two hours on long journeys as recommended in the highway code.

The worst culprits are female drivers. More women than men (83 per cent compared to 62 per cent) think the legal speed limit on motorways should be over 70 mph, with over 28 per cent of women believing it should be over 90 mph and 5 per cent even stating that there should be no speed restrictions at all.

Hale said, "The fact that the hours spent at the wheel has dramatically increased from last year is a worry. Aside from the wear and tear on both driver and vehicle, excessive mileage and time spent behind the wheel exposes an employer to risk."

Over 1,600 company car drivers were surveyed as part of a major report Company Cars – The Drivers’ Perspective, by Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance.