Business car users not heeding rest message

With driver exhaustion levels on the up according to recent reports, Skoda has surveyed over 500 car company drivers to find out if growing fatigue and traffic queues are changing our attitude to car usage at work.

The survey confirms that few business car users take the recommended break every two hours, with only one is seven drivers following the advice. Whilst every sixth driver surveyed never takes the break due to time pressures, an encouraging 65% say they remember the advice and try to apply it, when feasible.

Whilst 40% of company car drivers surveyed spend less than 10 hours a week behind the wheel, for every one in three the period can be as long as 20. One in five spends over 20 hours a week in the driving seat and for every one in ten the period is greater than 30.

Growing congestion and fatigue are constantly on the minds of most drivers but only one in seven business car users would consider changing jobs if it meant doing fewer business miles, with an overwhelming majority (56%) accepting high mileage as an integral part of their job.

Finally, respondents seemed divided on alternatives to business car usage, such as video conferencing and working from home. Whilst 46% expressed a keen interest in adopting alternatives, a decisive 45% would still rather get behind the wheel.

Martin Burke, head of business sales at Skoda, comments: “When it comes to work-related travel, the car remains the business tool of choice. Benefits of face-to-face interaction and a break from the office clearly offset the nuisance of traffic congestion for most workers. At Skoda we try to build cars that give drivers little bit extra to make the journey more enjoyable.”