DRIVING FOR SAFER COMPANY MOTORING - 1997 LEX REPORT ON MOTORING

This report focuses on the company car market, following an earlier report in 1997 on the consumer market. Two surveys were specially commissioned by MORI by Lex. The first study was of a representative sample of over 1200 drivers including 310 company car drivers. The second survey was of a representative sample of 300 fleet managers. Sales of new company cars in the UK rose by 7% to nearly 1.1 million in 1996 and company cars comprise 12% of the total cars on the road. Replacement rates for company cars have not returned to pre-recessionary levels. Most companies base replacement policy on the age of the car, length of ownership or a fixed number of miles. Increasing numbers of companies offer a cash option but the take-up is very low. The proportion of female company car drivers is increasing. Few companies used an objective measure of work-related mileage as the basis for providing a company car. More companies are switching to leasing or contract hire of cars. Some drivers would like a wider choice of vehicles, to include off-road vehicles and people carriers. The extra mileage of company car drivers is work-related and many company car drivers have a lower private mileage than private car drivers. The majority of company car drivers carry mobile phones and portable computers. Most company car drivers need their cars at work and would still drive even if they had to pay for parking. Fleet management practices are described. Driving standards of company cars are lower than those of private cars, with drivers admitting to exceeding speed limits and being prosecuted for speeding. Speed cameras have caused two-thirds of company car drivers to reduce their speeds. The high motorway mileage of many company car drivers finds some regularly falling asleep at the wheel. Many also reported road rage and being the victims of road rage as a result of high mileage exposure. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was rarely admitted to. Congestion and pollution were considered greater concerns than road safety. Very few companies run driver training schemes.