Survey Reveals 7 in 10 Company Drivers Fear Injury, Death, or Lawsuits – Safety

As more employees return to the office and traffic volumes rise across the U.S., today’s company drivers face increasingly hazardous roadways.

Latest research from Nationwide shows that almost all company drivers routinely dodge distracted motorists on their work routes. Still, many also confess to dangerous behaviors themselves behind the wheel that may lead to dangerous and dear accidents.

Still, that self-awareness doesn’t quiet their fears. About 70% of company drivers say they worry about being killed or hurt in a collision or being held answerable for the damages.

State of the Roadways

• 89% of company drivers rate their driving pretty much as good or excellent, but lower than 60% say the identical of other drivers on the road.
• At the least 1 in 5 company drivers (21%) admit to being incessantly distracted while driving for work — probably the most common distractions being GPS systems, cellular phone use (calls, texts, social media), eating or drinking, and adjusting their radio or music.
• Nevertheless it’s not only them: in comparison with a yr ago, company drivers think other motorists are using their phones more behind the wheel (69%) and driving faster (66%) and more aggressive (70%) today.
• Employees might also feel work pressures: 53% frequently take work phone calls, and roughly 1 / 4 are reading/responding to work texts (28%) or emails (24%) while driving. One other 40% are incessantly taking personal phone calls behind the corporate wheel.

Staffing Shortages and Safety Effects

Staffing shortages likely contribute to drivers’ challenges, resulting in heavier workloads and heightened safety concerns, as 4 in 10 drivers say their company is struggling to rent or retain qualified drivers.

This yr’s data revealed a 10-point jump across the board in drivers who say staffing shortages have increased their workload (72%), required them to work longer hours (71%), made it harder to fulfill deadlines (57%), decreased the standard of coaching (54%) and reduced the give attention to safety and compliance (49%).

• 48% also report that their employer has reduced hiring criteria as a consequence of talent shortages.
• Most concerning, 41% of drivers say the staffing shortages have negatively impacted their driving.

Increased Use of Dashcams and Hands-Free Policies

Many employers are adopting proactive measures to attenuate dangerous behaviors and phone distractions amongst fleet drivers, but there are still opportunities to boost safety initiatives further.

Implementing dashcam requirements and hands-free driving policies have grown significantly up to now 12 months, but enforcement of those policies vary.

• 84% of company drivers have a dashcam installed of their work vehicle. This 29-point year-over-year increase signals a growing commitment to enhance driver behavior, reduce liability, and improve fleet safety.
  • Nearly two-thirds (65%) say their employer requires a dashcam (+27 points), while 1 / 4 say they’re just encouraged, and 10% don’t feel pressured to make use of one.
• 44% of company drivers report that their employer enforces a hands-free driving policy and monitors their cellular phone usage while driving – a 10-point increase from last yr.
  • 24% have a hands-free policy but don’t monitor cellular phone usage
  • 22% don’t allow cellular phone use in any respect while driving
  • 10% don’t have any type of policy or monitoring in place
• 71% also report their employer uses continuous motorized vehicle record monitoring, akin to SambaSafety.

“The sharp rise in dashcam usage and hands-free policies sends a transparent message: employers are serious about tackling distractions and protecting their drivers,” said Mark McGhiey, risk management and client services leader at Nationwide.

“With a minimum of 1 in 5 drivers admitting to frequent distractions behind the wheel, and the industry’s belief that this number could also be even higher, it’s clear that policy alone isn’t enough — consistent driver engagement and training is crucial to turning these efforts into safer roads for everybody,” McGhiey said.

Training Can Help Ease Concerns

With collision concerns on the forefront of their minds, 69% of company drivers fear a crash will affect their employer’s popularity or future job prospects. About 1 in 5 (19%) also say their employer has faced legal motion as a consequence of a driving-related incident. 

While 87% feel their management prioritizes driver safety, 8 in 10 also wish for more training to assist prevent accidents.

Most employers offer training around critical driving safety topics, but a minimum of 3 in 10 don’t:

• Driving in opposed weather – 69%
• Distracted driving – 67%
• Stopping accidents and collisions – 67%
• Proper following distance – 65%
• Drowsy and fatigued driving – 61%

“In today’s difficult driving environment, it’s essential to have a comprehensive fleet safety program that ensures qualified and attentive drivers,” said McGhiey. “Enforcing hands-free policies and cell phone monitoring, together with leveraging technologies like fleet telematics, can significantly reduce dangerous and dangerous driving habits. And when drivers see their employers taking proactive steps to cut back accidents through technology, policies, and training, they might feel more protected — and more more likely to stay.”