UK company car and van drivers are risking accidents due to driving for too long without a break.

Fleet drivers are spending too long behind the wheel without a break

Analysis by telematics specialist Airmax Remote of 18,000 company vehicles over a 12-month period showed drivers are regularly exceeding guidelines on how long they should drive uninterrupted.

AA guidance for drivers recommends drivers should take regular fifteen-minute breaks in journeys over three hours. However, the Airmax Remote analysis across both cars and vans found drivers are doing on average seven trips a year of three hours-plus uninterrupted driving. And 2% of drivers are doing 30 or more such journeys a year.

According to official, police-recorded accident data, fatigue is a factor in 2% of all injury accidents, but some studies have suggested that 20% of accidents on major roads can be attributed to tiredness.

Dan Faulkner, sales director, Airmax Remote, said the findings reinforce the need for fleets to have insight of their drivers and journeys: “This visibility forms an important foundation for any company developing or improving a road risk management programme and policies as it gives actionable insight to make a difference in reducing road risk, not to mention cost.”