Are extra driving hours affecting your business?
by Fiona Taylor
Driving hours – does out of work driving affect your staff?
According to an analysis carried out by the Trade Union Congress, the number of employees commuting for two hours or more a day has risen significantly over the past five years. Driving hours are on the increase.
- The analysis found that in 2015, 3.7 million workers had daily commutes of two hours or longer. Up 31% since 2010.
- In 2015, 14% of UK employees travelled two hours or more each day to and from work. Compared to 11% in 2010.
- Men accounted for 61% of those who make work journeys of two hours or more. However, women have experienced a sharper rise in long commuting since 2010, up 35%.
- The growth in long commutes in sectors like education (+46%) and health and social care (+26%), where high numbers of women work, may explain this rise.
The TUC said that the rise in travelling times may be the result of stagnant wages combined with soaring rents and high house prices leaving many workers unable to move to areas closer to their jobs. It also pointed to a lack of investment in roads and railways increasing journey times.
How are these extra driving hours affecting your workforce?
Additional driving hours will make your drivers tired earlier, they could affect their concentration levels. There is a potential for your drivers to be off ill more often due to excessive driving. There is the potential for an increase in the risk of accidents if they are not giving their full attention to what they are doing.
What can you do as an employer to help?
A vehicle tracking system will help you to review the way that your drivers behave behind the wheel. You can;
- keep track of how many hours that they drive,
- make sure that they are having the relevant breaks that they need throughout their shifts,
- look for patterns in their driving behaviour.
Satmo can help with this – why not have a look at the features that we can offer you. Our driver behaviour stats and reporting features would be a great addition to your business and the consequently the well being of your team. If you have any questions then please feel free to give us a call. Ring 01274 587748 and one of our team will be happy to help.
Fiona Taylor
Fiona Taylor is the Sales Manager at award winning Satmo Vehicle Tracking. If you feel you need help with your fleet, want to gain back control, save some money and time then please get in touch.
