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Excessive Speeding Due to Work Schedules, Survey Says
Mix Telematics surveyed motorists in Britain, France, Germany and Spain about their speeding habits and the reason for putting the pedal to the metal might not be what you think it is.
Of the 63 percent that admitted to speeding, 37 percent admitted it was due to the pressure of work schedules. Despite serious consequences for taking their speeds up a notch, losing a license was the biggest concern of consequence (16 percent), while harm to self and harm to others just trailed behind (14 percent and 13 percent respectively).
"The knowledge that two-thirds of drivers in Britain, France, Germany and Spain routinely speed while going about their employer's business is a concern to companies in each of these countries," said Steve Coffin, marketing and operations director for Mix Telematics in a statement.
"Our survey also found that more than three quarters of all drivers – 77 percent – receive no training whatsoever related to speeding while driving for work.
This highlights a problem not just in Europe, but on the global scale, that employers and employees need to work together to ensure work schedules are attainable and also focus on safety first.
Training plays a crucial role, for both employees and employers, as those surveyed said that training had a positive influence on their behavior. These included truck and bus drivers, whose jobs rely on being on motorways.
Employers need to consider their employees commute times when scheduling shifts and meetings. For employees who have an hour or more of driving time, scheduling earlier shifts or start-of-day meetings might not be worth the safety of the employee and others.
Employers have quite a few options today when considering the health and well being of their workforce. Compressed work schedules, an option where an employee can work more hours per day but fewer days within a one or two week period, offer many benefits to both employers and employees. A compressed work schedule requires management support for successful implementation and enables employees to balance the demands of work and personal commitments. Employees benefit when supervisors model balanced work practices and clearly communicate tasks and expectations.
There is also teleworking, or telecommuting, which uses technology to eliminate the twice-daily commute. Employees work from home or another remote location. Concerns about employee productivity while not being physically present in the office can be overcome through education, communication and upfront planning.
Edited by Stefania Viscusi