Meal-at-wheel drivers running crash risk

27 February 2008

One in seven people who drive for work (15%) eat a meal at least once a week while driving, research revealed by national road safety charity Brake and Green Flag shows. This is far higher than other drivers, with only one in 25 admitting to eating at the wheel (4%) once a week or more.

The survey also found at-work drivers were twice as likely to break the law at least once a week by using a hand-held mobile while driving (one in ten at-work drivers (11%) compared to one in 20 other drivers (5%).)

The results indicate that many at-work drivers are much more likely to risk crazy multi-tasking than other drivers, and Brake is urging companies to ensure they instruct employees who drive for them to never eat or take calls while on the move.

Eating while driving can cause a significant delay to reaction times, with research suggesting that a simple task such as eating a bag of crisps while driving slows down reaction times by 29%†.

In June 2007 a Dutch lorry driver was jailed for eight weeks and banned from driving for a year after being found eating a plate of spaghetti while driving erratically along a dual carriageway in North Wales†. He admitted dangerous driving. BBC news online June 2007

Recent Government research shows the message is getting through to drivers on the use of hand-held mobile phones†, with a 40% reduction in the number of car drivers seen using hand-held mobiles at the wheel between September 2006 and August 2007†. A new £1.5 million publicity campaign has been launched to target drivers using phones.

When driving while using a mobile phone, research has shown it is the distraction of the conversation which poses the risk, not the fact that a phone is hand-held. Travelling at 70mph, a driver using a hands-free mobile will take longer to react. This reaction will mean they stop after 39metres (128ft), rather than 31 metres (102ft)†. Those eight metres could be the difference between crashing or not. Brake continues to call on the Government to make the use of hands free as well as hand held mobile phones while driving illegal. While the law allows hands-free kits to be used, drivers will continue to put themselves and others at risk.

It is essential that the Government provides the funding to police forces to get more traffic police on the roads and deter drivers from driving while distracted, either through using a mobile phone or eating at the wheel. Any changes to the law will remain theoretical if the police manpower is not out there to enforce it.

Cathy Keeler, head of campaigns for Brake says: "Crazy multi-tasking while driving causes deaths and injuries. Drivers must plan regular breaks on long journeys to allow time to eat and make phone calls, as well as to ensure they aren't driving tired. Driving is the most dangerous activity that most of us do on a daily basis. No-one would dream of snacking on a sarnie or picking up the phone while using a chain saw or doing any other safety-critical job - and we mustn't when driving."

Abi Clark, spokesperson for Green Flag, says: "It is essential that all drivers are aware of the dangers of eating or using a mobile phone at the wheel. Both of these activities impair drivers' reactions and levels of concentration and, as a result, the likelihood of crashing increases."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Brake

Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 9 deaths and 82 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (10-16 November 2008). Brake's Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers and runs a year-round programme of events. BrakeCare, Brake's support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Green Flag

  • Green Flag provides roadside rescue and breakdown recovery 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • Green Flag's incident management centre in Leeds manages around 1m breakdown incidents each year.
  • Customers have access to a national network of thousands of independent recovery agents in the UK and on mainland Europe

Brake and Green Flag survey

These results are from a survey of 4,640 drivers including 2,510 drivers who drive for work ('at-work drivers', does not include commuting), carried out across the UK.

Respondents were asked:

Within the past 12 months, how often have you fallen asleep at the wheel?

  • 2% of at-work drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel three times or more, compared to 0% of other drivers
  • 2% of at-work drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel twice, compared to 1% of other drivers
  • 6% of at-work drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel once, compared to 3% of other drivers
  • 89% of at-work drivers have not fallen asleep at the wheel, compared to 94% of other drivers
  • 1% of at-work drivers did not answer, compared to 2% of other drivers

Within the past 12 months, how often have you driven after less than five hours' sleep the night before?

  • 1% of at-work drivers have driven once a day or more frequently after less than five hours' sleep, compared to 1% of other drivers
  • 3% of at-work drivers have driven several times a week after less than five hours' sleep, compared to 3% of other drivers
  • 2% of at-work drivers have driven once a week after less than five hours' sleep, compared to 2% of other drivers
  • 4% of at-work drivers have driven once a month after less than five hours' sleep, compared to 3% of other drivers
  • 40% of at-work drivers have driven once or twice after less than five hours' sleep, compared to 26% of other drivers
  • 49% of at-work drivers have not driven after less than five hours' sleep, compared to 65% of other drivers
  • 1% of at-work drivers and 0% of other drivers did not answer

Sources

†Research conducted by Fleet News in 2005
†BBC online report
†The penalty for being caught using a phone rose from £30 to £60 on 27 February, 2007
†Figures from a Department for Transport press release Feb 2008 research conducted by Transport Research Laboratory
†Transport Research Laboratory and Direct Line report 'The Mobile Phone Report'