Driver Distraction - New Brake Survey Report

For most people, driving for work is likely to be the most dangerous activity they do on a daily basis. Even a momentary lapse in concentration can have devastating consequences. Distractions such as mobile phones are proven to severely impair driving ability, causing slower reaction times and difficulty controlling speed and lane position. Other distractions such as eating and drinking, adjusting controls and smoking also increase crash risk.

The 220 organisations that responded to the latest Brake Fleet Safety Forum survey operate fleets of all sizes and vehicle types.  They are responsible for thousands of drivers and vehicles around the globe. 

Almost all fleet managers surveyed (98%) take some form of action on mobile phone risk. Almost three in 10 (28%) have banned all mobile phone use, including hands-free, while driving. However almost half (48%) of fleets have built-in communication devices in their vehicles, such as two-way radios or built-in hands-free kits, and only one in three (35%) of these instruct drivers not to use them while driving.

One in seven (14%) employers surveyed monitor phone use to ensure compliance with their policies, and nearly six in 10 (58%) educate drivers on the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving.

For more on this Report and Brake's Fleet Safety Forum, click here