Under pressure: driving affected by stresses of haulage

Most UK van and lorry drivers (90%) said work-related stress had a negative impact on their driving, but half said they were uncomfortable approaching their employer for help and 39% felt their bosses offered only a low level of support.

Nearly all of the 500 UK commercial vehicle drivers surveyed (97%) in the work commissioned by telematics firm Geotab said that the risk of accidents had increased over the last five years

Geotab said this was backed up by real-world data, which showed that the total distance per collision driven by HGV and van operators in the UK decreased by almost one-fifth (19.12%) in 2023, from 920,000 miles to 740,000 miles.

It said this potentially translated into an additional 20 collisions every year for a large company running 1,000 lorries.

Geotab said the findings were a stark reminder of the stresses of professional driving: “Commercial vehicle drivers keep our economy moving and have come under increased pressure following the Covid-19 pandemic and massive uplift in home and business deliveries,” said Edward Kulperger, senior VP at Geotab.

“It’s concerning to see how drivers feel under-supported when it comes to managing stress and other mental health concerns.”

Geotab and other automotive industry peers are hosting a webinar during Road Safety Week, which runs from 17-23 November, to shine a light on the pressures faced by the UK’s commercial vehicle drivers and the type of actions employers can take to make their lives easier and reduce stress.

Original Article – Under Pressure: Diving Affected by Stresses of Haulage (motortransport.co.uk)