The August Bank Holiday is nearly here, and new research suggests fleet managers have another reason to make sure driver safety is front of mind.
Analysis of more than 16 million UK journeys found that driver distraction increases by 15% on August Bank Holidays, while speeding rises by more than 23%.
The figures become even more concerning when you look at when the behaviour is happening.
Between 7am and 11am, phone distraction is almost 24% higher than on a typical Monday. Between midday and 4pm, when fatal collisions during August are at their highest, distraction remains more than 22% above normal.
Speeding follows a similar pattern, with particularly large increases during the morning and remaining elevated throughout much of the day.
And this Bank Holiday could be particularly busy with 20 million leisure journeys expected across the weekend, potentially making it the busiest August Bank Holiday on the roads since records began in 2015.
For fleets, it’s a useful reminder that risk doesn’t disappear just because it’s a Bank Holiday.
Whether drivers are working over the weekend or simply using company vehicles, increased congestion, unfamiliar journeys, mobile phone use and speeding can all increase exposure to risk.
It’s therefore worth reinforcing your policies around distraction and speeding before the weekend and, importantly, making sure you have the visibility to identify risky driving behaviours when they occur.
That’s where effective driver risk management and monitoring can make a real difference, and that’s where Risk Monitor becomes essential.
