Leasedrive VELO

Company car drivers could do with a Highway Code refresher reveals Leasedrive Velo Group survey
30 September 2009

In an online survey of 1,041 drivers by the Leasedrive Velo Group, one of the largest independent privately-owned vehicle management groups in the UK, only 48 per cent admitted having read the Highway Code since passing their driving test. Of these, 47 per cent refreshed their knowledge in the current decade, 22 per cent in the 90s and 20 per cent in the 80s.

Roddy Graham, commercial director at Leasedrive Velo Group said: “While questions to our latest online survey revealed that generally company car drivers were up to speed with the latest regulations and limits, some wrong answers indicated that there is ‘room for improvement’, something that could quickly be addressed by a refresher of the Highway Code. With around 200 road deaths and serious injuries every week involving someone driving ‘at work’, clearly that is a good enough incentive for ‘at work’ drivers to become more familiar with the ‘rules of the road’. After all, about a quarter of all vehicle miles driven annually are for work purposes and that does not even take into account commuting to and from work.”

Only 74 per cent correctly stated that 70 mph was the national speed limit on dual carriageways and only 79 per cent of the drivers surveyed correctly identified 60 mph as the national speed limit on single carriageways. However, over 99 per cent correctly stated that the national speed limit on motorways was 70 mph.

Of greater concern was the fact that only 94 per cent of drivers correctly recognised the ‘no overtaking’ sign. Three per cent confused this sign with the one designating oncoming traffic has priority, which was correctly answered by 97 per cent of drivers.

Despite the random ‘keep your distance’ marker arrows on motorways, only 45 per cent of drivers correctly guessed the minimum safe distance to be two seconds from the car in front. However, 49 per cent considered the time interval longer, at three seconds.

Again, 52 per cent correctly stated the drink-driving limit as being 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, 43 per cent considering the limit lower at 60mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. In a multi-choice question, seven per cent mistakenly believed the legal limit to be two pints of beer or one large glass of wine, failing to realise that individuals’ tolerances vary according to their age, weight, propensity to drink and type of drink consumed.

Although 300 people are killed each year as a result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel, seven per cent felt the recommended limit for taking a break on a long journey to be every three hours and two per cent thought four hours acceptable. Ninety per cent correctly answered every two hours.

Ninety-six per cent knew correctly that it was only acceptable to stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway if your vehicle has broken down and 95 per cent that you should get out of your vehicle and call for assistance on the verge or behind the barrier.

Worryingly, 15 per cent of drivers surveyed had not had their eyes tested in over two years.

Ending on a high note, all company car drivers wore seatbelts and only one per cent admitted talking on their mobiles while driving, 51 per cent using a hands-free device and 48 per cent switching their mobile phone off or ignoring calls and checking them only at the end of their journey.

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