Fleet owners have been warned they may need to alter the way they deliver road safety training, amid an increase in both older and younger drivers on Britain’s roads.

The advice comes from licence checking firm Licence Bureau, which said it is seeing millennial’s and even younger drivers entering the business driving workforce at the same time as rising retirement ages mean a boom in so-called ‘grey fleet’ motorists.

 

Rising numbers at both ends of the spectrum

Indeed, according to the Department for Transport, the number of people aged between 60 and 69 with a driving licence has now reached the highest since records began. In addition, eight per cent more 17 to 20-year-olds had a licence in 2018, than was the case the year before.

Licence Bureau said this means the era of business drivers typically being 30 to 50 years old has now passed, so managers need to alter their safety provision accordingly.

Spokesperson Steve Pinchen suggested the scenario is something of a ‘perfect storm’, with different challenges at each end of the spectrum.

“The key is to ensure all company car drivers are treated as individuals and given access to the appropriate support mechanisms such as risk assessments, employee audits and road safety training,” he added.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “This is an interesting new trend and one we agree is going to need addressing. For example, older drivers may need more regular vision checks, while the younger ones could benefit from resources on technology use behind the wheel. The main thing is to take a look now and get ahead of the issue.”

A village in Oxfordshire is to become the first in Britain to trial a new road surface that could finally end the nation’s pothole problems.

Oxfordshire County Council has teamed up with graphene specialist Directa Plus to lay 750 metres of graphene-enhanced tarmac along roads in Curbridge in the hope that its strength will see it last far longer than traditional surfaces.

An innovative solution to a growing problem

It was reported back in July that Highways England had partnered with the Manchester-based Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre in the hope of looking into ways of using the material to create the roads of the future.

Now, a real-world test has been created and the road in Curbridge will be compared against its neighbours over winter to assess service life, resistance to vehicles and deformation levels.

It is hoped that using what’s referred to as a ‘super modifier’ in this way will create far stronger highways, with the potential to roll them out across the country if the trial is a success.

Better surfaces could reduce the steady stream of roadworks fleet drivers will be used to seeing, as well as lessening the likelihood of damage to vehicles caused by potholes.

Directa Plus chief executive Giulio Cesareo said: “This technology will allow governments to supply better quality roads for drivers and other road users, at better value for money, and in a more environmentally sustainable way.”

First isolated at the University of Manchester in 2004, graphene is the world’s first two-dimensional material and is a million times thinner than a human hair, yet is also stronger than steel.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “We’re well aware that fleet drivers are sick of having their journeys blighted by potholes, so let’s hope this trial proves fruitful and stronger roads can be created across Britain.”

With the clocks having gone back, many people will now be making more of their car journeys in the dark.

However, new research shows some may be risking their own safety and that of other road users as they take these trips.

 

Driving when tired

According to a poll of 2,055 motorists by motorway services firm Roadchef, 32 per cent admitted to regularly getting behind the wheel in the dark while tired.

Furthermore, 42 per cent said they don’t always stop for a break on longer night-time journeys, with 51 per cent instead relying on rolling the windows down to keep them alert and 45 per cent resorting to loud music.

Spokesperson for road safety charity Brake Samuel Nahk said: “As the nights get longer, it is vital that drivers are fully aware of the dangers of driving in the dark, and that driving tired can be fatal.”

The RAC warns that reduced light in the autumn and winter can increase melatonin levels in human beings, resulting in more tiredness than usual. It recommends always stopping for a break should drowsiness occur and perhaps taking an advanced driving course to gain more experience of driving in the dark.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Evening and night-time trips may be unavoidable if you’re driving for business, but it’s essential to keep safety at the top of the agenda. If you feel tired, always stop to recharge your batteries. It’s as simple as that.”

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Work-related stress could be causing a worrying number of accidents on Britain’s roads, according to a new study.

Research carried out by Lightfoot found 12 per cent of fleet drivers had cited stress caused by their job as the main reason for them having an accident.

This was followed by 12 per cent reporting phone calls during their journeys. As well as four per cent explaining that a work-related email had been the primary cause of their crash.

 

Feeling the pressure

The news suggests many business motorists may be having their journeys impinged upon by office issues. As well as colleagues trying to get hold of them while they are behind the wheel.

In fact, a quarter of drivers said they had been involved in a collision during a work-related journey or their commute. With recent figures reporting that one in three road deaths now involve a vehicle being driven for work.

Furthermore, a Brake and Direct Line survey discovered 39 per cent of drivers had lost concentration at the wheel due to work-related stress.

Mark Roberts, founder of Lightfoot, said: “Fleet staff may be feeling under pressure to get to meetings within certain time-frames, something that could lead to risky driving.”

“Work-related stress resulting in road accidents should be a red flag for all businesses operating company cars and fleet vehicles,” he added.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “This is truly shocking news. We appreciate that many businesses have deadlines and targets to meet, but this should not come at the expense of their employees and other road users. We would urge companies to ensure staff taking to the roads have the time and space they need to complete every journey safely.”

 

Driving cars with uncomfortable seats could be costing the UK’s economy dearly, according to new research from Volvo.

It carried out a study of more than 2,000 people who drive for work and discovered more than a third have taken at least one day off in the past year alone because of back pain caused by their seats.

A week’s worth of pain

One in ten workers was forced to be absent from their job for a full week, with nearly a third saying they were forced to seek help from a doctor or physiotherapist as a result.

With so many people needing their cars as part of their employment, this could mean a loss of productivity for the UK economy amounting to £8.8 billion a year.

One in five people surveyed said they had gone so far as to swap their vehicle in the past because the seats were so uncomfortable, while the majority suggested manufacturers should pay more attention to lumbar support when they are constructing car seats.

Volvo Car UK’s Kristian Elvefors said: “Back pain from poor-quality car seats is a bigger problem than many think. Not only is it costing the UK economy billions, but poor-quality car seats are also placing an unnecessary burden on the NHS.”

Out of the 32.4 million people employed in Britain, a whopping 68 per cent use their car either for work purposes or at least to get there in the first place.

Many will undoubtedly now be wishing their company uses Volvos, as the brand has reminded us it was one of the first carmakers to incorporate spinal research into its seat design and continues to perfect it to this day.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Back pain is a really serious issue in Britain and it’s amazing what a difference comfortable seats can make, especially for fleet drivers who are behind the wheel for hours each day.”