The Need For Speed Awareness

July 2022

The number of drivers taking a speed awareness course due to exceeding the speed limit has trebled over the last 10 years, making speed awareness a topic of conversation in the workplace that cannot be ignored. 

Figures from the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) show that 1.28 million people took a speeding course during 2019 which is up from 1.19 million during 2018.  At the same time it has been identified that 1 in 5 jobs in the UK now require workers to be able to drive, meaning losing a driving licence can have severe consequences both personally and professionally. 

The main reasons that can affect how people drive are:

• Time pressure
• Anger
• Familiarity
• Over-confidence

It is important for not only the individual to understand and recognise the pressures that affect driver behaviour behind the wheel but also for business owners and fleet or risk managers. 

What’s the answer?

Driver education and raising awareness are essential.  Studies show that drivers are encouraged to drive at safer speeds when they understand that excessive and inappropriate speed greatly increases the risk of being involved in a serious or fatal accident. 

Resources are available to business owners and fleet managers to improve drivers safety, including: 

• Training
• Technology
• Company Policies
• Regular Feedback

Tailored risk management approaches for effective solutions, including - protecting employees and reducing claim frequency to potentially help to reduce insurance premiums.