LeasePlan Monitor: 57 percent of US drivers admitted to calling while driving.
A recent global LeasePlan Driver Survey performed by TNS, surveyed 3,377 company car drivers in 20 countries. LeasePlan recognized a growing interest from fleet managers in topics regarding the individual driver, such as safety and driver behavior. For example, in the survey, half of the drivers said the companies they are working for are focusing on driver safety.
In the US, 45% of the drivers said that the company regularly sends e-mails with tips & tricks regarding driving safety. Yet most drivers still multitask when driving. Nearly a third (30%) of all drivers questioned said they can attend courses and workshops or can do tests on safe driving. Almost the same number of drivers (29%) globally receives regular information and tips from their employers on their driving behavior.
“At LeasePlan, safety is priority and a key initiative. Finding the courage to stand up against driving dangers such as distracted driving is important. We try to give fleet managers the information and the tools to create a safe culture for their drivers,” Dan Shive, vice president of risk management, LeasePlan USA.
“Influencing driver behavior is the next level of fleet optimization,” says Nathalie de Vries, senior consultant at LeasePlan. “We need to engage drivers to modify their behavior to meet various objectives in the area of safety, but also cost control and CO2 emissions.” The LeasePlan Monitor shows North American companies take the lead in informing their lease drivers about safety: 73% of US drivers surveyed say their companies inform them on this topic. In the U.S., only 16% of drivers say that their company offers nothing with regard to driver safety.
Distracted Driving and American Drivers
One of the issues concerning safe driving is distracted driving. The most common activities to do while driving, in addition to calling, is eating and drinking in the US. The survey also showed that drivers in the US are more cautious as they check social media and send messages, significantly less compared to the other countries surveyed.
LeasePlan observes that the debate on using mobile devices while driving continually intensifies. Governments and fleet managers are stepping up their efforts to inform drivers on the risks of using smartphones while driving. These efforts include discouragement policies and even complete bans. LeasePlan USA has a total cell phone policy ban for anyone who has a company vehicle or mobile device. In addition, LeasePlan offers fleet managers help in promoting driver safety. Advice on implementing distracted driving policies is offered to any company that is looking to create a distracted driving policy.
Aggressive Driving in the USA
Company car drivers were also questioned on other topics related to safe driving. Cutting off and tailgating are perceived as the most irritating types of behavior on the road in the US. Less than 10% say that they have done it themselves in the past year, while 80% have experienced it on the road. In addition, 71% claim that there is no difference in their driving style when using a lease vehicle or a personal vehicle.
According to the overall survey, the most annoying behaviors on the road is also tailgating (24%), followed by driving too slow (20%) and cutting off (17%). Interestingly, the ranking differs for each continent. When questioned about the nationality of the worst drivers, almost all nationalities nominated motorists from other countries.
About LeasePlan Monitor
Accelerating economic, technological and social developments are shaping the future of mobility – and the vehicle leasing industry. LeasePlan aims to unlock valuable knowledge about global mobility throughout its network of companies in 32 countries worldwide. The LeasePlan Monitor makes it easier for fleet decision makers to stay up to date with key developments and make informed decisions concerning fleet management and driver mobility.