Deadly Driving Habits Rampant Among Work Drivers, New Study Reveals

New figures from the road safety charity IAM RoadSmart reveal a serious, and potentially costly, blind spot in UK fleet safety.

According to data from over 4,500 participants in its Driving for Work training programme, 28% of business drivers are failing to check their mirrors or blind spots. Even more worrying, 23% admit to tailgating, a notoriously well-known cause of rear-end collisions.

For any organisation with drivers on the road, this should be a wake-up call.

As one of the leading providers for health and safety training in the workplace, with experience creating bespoke driving to work courses for businesses across the UK, we regularly advise employers on their legal and moral responsibilities to protect employees and others affected by their operations. That duty doesn’t end at the office door. Driving for work is one of the most dangerous tasks employees perform, and yet, it’s often overlooked in risk assessments and compliance audits.

Key Findings from the Road Safety Report

What this latest data tells us is that even experienced drivers can lapse into unsafe behaviours over time, through complacency. These are not singular instances of poor driving habits. They are indicative of poor organisational culture, gaps in training and a lack of proactive monitoring.

Let’s look at the facts:

• 23% of drivers tailgate.
• 28% fail to check mirrors or blind spots.
• 22% don’t observe hazards ahead.

These are basic driving principles, and yet a sizeable portion of business drivers are actively skipping them. Not only does this expose organisations to the risk of collisions and injury, but it also opens the door to employers potentially being held responsible, particularly if it’s found that appropriate driver training or oversight wasn’t in place.

The financial impact is also significant. The IAM RoadSmart’s findings show that:

• 33% of business drivers use incorrect gear for their speed.
• 34% struggle with managing speed and space.
• 19% are regularly over-revving.

These habits contribute to excess fuel consumption, increased wear and tear on vehicles, and higher emissions. If your business has a net-zero target, this adds another layer of challenge.

The Costs of Dangerous Driving for Businesses

According to IAM RoadSmart, larger fleets could be wasting over £70,000 a year due to poor driving behaviours alone.

As the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states, employers must manage driving risks as they would any other workplace hazard. That includes:

• Ensuring all work-related driving is risk assessed.
• Providing regular, tailored driver training.
• Monitoring driver behaviour using telematics, feedback, or audits.
• Embedding a positive safety culture that values safe, efficient driving.

Investing in driver training and fleet safety delivers returns in reduced insurance claims, lower fuel costs, and improved employee wellbeing.

In a statement, Steve Terry, Managing Director at Astutis, had this to say:

“When nearly a third of professional drivers aren’t checking their mirrors or blind spots, it’s a clear sign that the current safety standards are slipping. These are basic driving principles that must be upheld. Not to address this behaviour directly is a serious failure in duty of care, and employers must act immediately to ensure that employees understand the consequences and dangers of reckless driving.”

From my professional experience, businesses that take driving safety seriously see clear benefits, not just in safety statistics, but in reputation, sustainability goals, and even employee retention.

If your employees drive for work, whether in company vehicles or their own, now is the time to revisit your driving at work policy. For any more insights into the latest topics relevant to the health and safety, or environmental industries, keep an eye on our Astutis Knowledge Hub or visit any of our top stories below.

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