20 November 2024

Driving for work raises fatal collision liklihood


A quarter of all drivers involved in fatal road collisions over the past five years were driving for work, writes Brian Byrne. The figure was produced by the Road Safety Authority at their annual seminar on Driving for Work.

The seminar also heard that the RSA’s most recent observational study showed that almost one in 10 (9pc) motorists are using a mobile device while driving. Van (LGV) drivers are the worst offenders at 13pc. 

Those drivers were typically male and aged between 36-55, with half of them driving HGVs, according to the analysis which covers the years 2019 to 2023.

HGVs represented 11pc of vehicles involved in fatal road collisions. In most of these collisions either the driver of the other vehicle or a pedestrian was killed.

The survey found that those who drive for work are more likely to exceed speed limits than other drivers, and more likely to use a mobile phone while driving and less likely to wear a seatbelt.