A new survey from Venson Automotive Solutions highlights a need for a greater number of visible speed limit signs, as motorists admit they have unwittingly speeded because they did not know the limit for the roads they were driving on. It also found that employed 35-54 year olds, earning an above average salary, are more likely to speed than their younger counterparts – knowingly or otherwise.
The new data supports Brake Road Safety Week 2020 (16-22 November) campaign theme ‘No Need To Speed’, as speed contributes to one in five fatal crashes in the UK. Police road accident data shows that every year over 500 people are killed (almost one third of all road deaths), 5,000 seriously injured and almost 40,000 slightly injured in collisions involving drivers or riders who are driving for work. This includes other road users, as well as at-work drivers and riders themselves. In fact, most of those killed on work-related journeys are passengers, pedestrians and riders rather than the at-work drivers and riders.
Simon Staton, Director of Client Management at Venson Automotive Solutions comments, “Our survey findings suggest that more needs to be done to make people aware – both in terms of in-car tech to alert drivers to their speed and dominant signage on UK’s roads – of varying speed limits, particularly in the wake of new reduced limits across many towns and cities. Driving a vehicle at excess speed is one of the most common motoring offences. However, with the HSE estimating that “more than a quarter of all road traffic incidents may involve somebody who is driving as part of their work at the time” more must be done to curb speeding.
“Fleet managers and businesses need to ensure they have a Duty of Care policy in place that includes driver licence checking, driver risk assessments and driver training. It is important to also monitor speeding fines and accident data to understand the drivers that pose a risk to the business, themselves and other road users, and work with them to improve their behaviour behind the wheel. Businesses can also encourage user-choosers to consider in-car technology to help them drive responsibly such as intelligent speed assistance systems. Educating drivers and ensuring best practices are in place will in turn save lives.”
Venson: Looking to the future of Public Sector Fleets
