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Company Car drivers more likely to exceed speed limits

Company Car newsThe RAC has urged fleet managers to monitor their drivers’ activity more closely, after research has revealed that company car drivers are more inclined to drive in excess of the speed limit.

Their ‘Report on Motoring 2014’ found that business drivers feel within their rights to drive at least slightly above the limit . Recent years have seen the introduction of more ‘smart motorways’, which make use of the hard shoulder during busy times and include variable speed limits. As a result, there are no plans to increase the speed limit on British motorways, but company car drivers feel that it should increase.
The report highlights a number of differences between Company Car drivers, when compared with private motorists:
  • 88% of Company Car drivers admit to speeding regularly (compared with only 67% of private motorists)
  • 90% felt that the 70mph limit was too low (compared with only 69% of private motorists).
  • 62% reach speeds of 80mph or more (compared with only 32% of private motorists)
  • 8% reach speeds above 90mph (compared with only 3% of private motorists)
The most popular reasons cited for speeding were as follows:
  • Drivers were  just following the flow of traffic (31%)
  • Driving conditions were very favourable (19%)
  • 70 mph felt too slow(15%)
  • Modern cars can handle higher speeds easily (8%)
The RAC are concerned that these attitudes could impact on safety, as well as hitting the pockets of companies and their drivers in terms of fines and penalties. As a big advocate of telematics, they again highlighted the fact that it can benefit fleet managers not only in terms of driver behaviour and safety, but can also help with fuel efficiency and monitoring individuals’ time-keeping and efficiency.

How well do you understand the risks of driving on business?

If you drive on business, or are responsible for a motor fleet, try our quick quiz on Motoring Prosecutions – there are 5 quick, multiple choice questions and it takes about 2 minutes to complete. At the end you can download a free guide to Motoring Convictions from global insurer Allianz.

If you’d like to know more about Motor Fleet Insurance for your business, call us on 01943 876631 or contact us through the website.