The research, which was undertaken by the business arm of vehicle satellite navigation provider TomTom, also found that 60% of companies with five employees or more reported staff members had been involved in road traffic accidents while driving for business. Seventy-eight per cent of these claimed this resulted in lost productivity due to injury or time off work.
Only 64% of the senior managers surveyed said that they had processes to profile the risks posed by individual drivers, based on factors such as driving behaviour or previous convictions.
The research also found that 57% provided driving training and of those that did, 38% provided it once every six months or less frequently. Just over half (53%) provide drivers with technological tools or driver aids to help them drive more safely.
Beverley Wise, director UK & Ireland at TomTom Telematics said that driving is one of the most high risk activities the majority of workers will conduct as part of their job but is too often seen as a poor relation to workplace health and safety.
"Businesses should also be aware that a proactive approach to road safety can deliver further business benefits. By employing technology to monitor driver behaviour and providing drivers with live feedback, supported by targeted coaching and training, it is possible to reduce fuel spend, cut insurance premiums and boost productivity."
