More than half of van drivers still check phones whilst driving, says study
Wed, 28 Aug 2024
Over half (57%) of UK van drivers still physically check their mobile phones while driving, according to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles research. This is despite the most recent update to Regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, banning the use of all handheld devices behind the wheel and an increased fine of £200 fine and six penalty points.
While the proportion of van drivers checking their phones has reduced by 7% versus 2023 – in which 64% of UK van drivers confessed to checking their phones – 1 in 10 still admit to not only doing so while driving, but doing so “often”, whilst a recently released Department for Transport survey found that van drivers are more than twice as likely to use their mobile phone while driving, compared to all other types of drivers.
Research carried out on behalf of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles showed that the decision to ignore mobile phone driving laws is not the result of a lack of available hands-free technology. In fact, 98% of respondents stated that their vans have in-built technology to support hands-free driving, with almost all (93%) using the technology at least once during the working day.
The manufacturer is now urging van drivers to go hands-free while on the road - something made more important by the hours UK van drivers spend in their vehicles continuing to increase – rising from an average 4.88 hours per day in 2022, to 6.24 hours in 2023.
John Ricardo-Neto, Head of Product Planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: "While there’s still a large number of van drivers ignoring the mobile driving laws at some stage throughout the day, it’s positive to see that van drivers are, for the most part, using hands-free technology while on the road."
Most new vans on sale in the UK now have Bluetooth hands-free connectivity as standard, as well as in-cabin tech such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice control, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
The VWCV survey shows that many van drivers are transitioning to such technology, with 82% of respondnets saying they make up to 10 hands-free calls per day.
