25pc of drivers break rest rules

A quarter of UK commercial drivers are breaching driver guidelines around rest and fatigue, according to a survey of fleet managers by Verizon Connect.

When asked about the top issues that worry them, 24 per cent of fleet managers cited compliance, 23 per cent said unsafe driving practices and 13 per cent of fleet managers said drivers not taking rest.

Two thirds of fleet managers have systems in place to help ensure their drivers take required breaks. However, 16 per cent of them leave it at each driver’s discretion to take appropriate rest, 15 per cent ask their drivers about their breaks and three per cent do not know.

According to the study, fleet managers said they spend more than three hours a week correcting and following up on drivers’ tachograph mistakes – which adds up to nearly 21 working days, or more than a month, each year. When asked how they would prefer to spend this time instead, looking for ways to reduce costs was the most popular response with 39 per cent.

Derek Bryan, vice president, EMEA at Verizon Connect, said: ““Simple systems can be put in place to cut down time spent on admin while ensuring compliance and driver safety. By integrating tachograph data with their fleet management system, organisations of any size can improve driver safety, compliance, and productivity. In doing so, managers reclaim time to focus on growing and improving the business.”