DFW seminar 2024

Driving for work: casualty trends and dangerous behaviours.

Driving for work seminar, November 2024

Velma Burns Research Manager

Casualty trends Trip purpose ‘driving for work’ Vehicle type

77

186

163

188 192

162

182

154

153

184

Fatalities

Fatalities per million population

Note: All data for 2020-2024 are provisional and subject to change.

2027

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

134 140 143 133 52 47 41 35 41 41 35 38 32 28 28 29 27 30 35 2008

2007

62

212

Fatalities per million population

238

2030

Pandemic years

279

2029

129 338

200 180 160 140 120 2030 target of 72 100 fatalities or lower 80 60 40 72 20 0

2028

472

2006

500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Year

Fatalities

Long-term trend of fatalities

Road User profile last five years (20192023) Fatalities 80

74 67

70 60

58

67 57

50

42 44

40

34

25

30

15

20

18

22

16 17

22 23

27

27

32 19

8 10 7

10

7

9 2

3

0

Driver

Passenger

Motorcyclist 2019

2020

Cyclist 2021

2022

Pedestrian

e-scooter user/Other

2023

9% of drivers killed were driving for work – male, mostly 36-45yrs, LGV and car drivers.

25% of drivers involved in fatal collisions were driving for work – male, 36-55, 50% HGV drivers.

Note: All data for 2020-2023 are provisional and subject to change.

Road User profile last five years (20192023) 10 serious injuries for every fatality 2019-2023 600 500

400

559 464

461

486

389

373 306

300

246

212 168

200

196

221

227 147

301

268281273 222

179198175

300 226218

100

37 36

0

Driver

Passenger

Motorcyclist 2019

2020

2021

Cyclist 2022

Pedestrian 2023

12% of drivers seriously injured were driving for work.

18% of drivers involved in serious injury collisions were driving for work.

Majority male, 36-55 yrs, greatest share car drivers, followed by LGV drivers.

Note: All data for 2020-2023 are provisional and subject to change.

e-scooter user/Other

Vehicles involved in fatal and serious injury collisions 2019-2023

100% 90%

Of vehicles involved in fatal collisions, HGVs represent 11%.

5% 1% 4% 10%

P.S.V 9%

9%

11%

7% 3%

60%

Pedal Cycle

2 Wheeled Motor Vehicle

50% 40% 30%

Other

14%

80% 70%

The corresponding figure for HGVs in serious injury collisions is 3%.

4% 1%

LGV

60%

61% HGV

20% 10%

Car (Private car, taxi, hackney)

0% Vehicles in Fatal Collisions (n=1107)

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

Vehicles in Serious injury Collisions (n= 10129) 6

Injury status of road users involved in fatal collisions with HGVs 2019-2023 Driver of other vehicle or a pedestrian most likely to be killed Majority of HGV drivers not injured.

Drivers of the HGVs (n=117) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

80 89

Fatalities among other road users involved (n=121) 68

60 40 20

19 5

32

11

6

4

4

0

Fatal

Serious

Minor

Not Injured

Note, 121 HGVs were identified but there are 117 corresponding drivers in the data at present.

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

Driver

Passenger

Motorcyclist

Pedal cyclist

Pedestrian

7

Injury status of road users involved in serious injury collisions with HGVs 2019-2023 The driver of the other vehicle is most likely to be seriously injured, but passengers and VRUs also feature.

Drivers of the HGVs (n=275) 250 212 200 150 100 50

46 17

0

Serious

Minor

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

Not Injured

Those seriously injured include: ▪ 124 drivers ▪ 40 passengers ▪ 38 pedal cyclists ▪ 31 pedestrians ▪ 14 motorcyclists ▪ 3 e-scooter users

Note, 284 HGVs were identified but there are only 275 corresponding drivers in the data at present.

8

Dangerous behaviours

Dangerous behaviours influencing death and serious injury on our roads International evidence Speed (Safe Speeds) - 5% reduction in average speed ≈ 30% reduction in fatal collisions (WHO, 2017).

Distracted Driving (Safe Road Use) Mobile phone use - Approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in a collision (WHO, 2022).

Fatigue (Safe Road Use) - Estimated to be a contributing factor in 15-20% of serious road crashes (ERSO, 2021).

Impaired Driving (Safe Road Use) Intoxicants - Drivers with a BAC between 50-80mg alcohol per 100ml blood are between 5-10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision (ETSC, 2022).

Protective Equipment (Safe Road Use) Seat belt wearing - Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal or serious injuries by approx. 60% (ERSO, 2022).

Speeding Traffic Count Study

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

% speeding Traffic Counts April/May 2023

58 46

49 33

30 17

30km/h 50km/h 60km/h 80km/h 100km/h 120km/h

On all road types non-compliance highest between 8pm-8am, specifically between 4am-8am Majority of non-compliance on all road types exceeded the speed limit by up to 10km/h

80% of HGV drivers exceed the speed limit on 100km/h roads (limit 80km/h).

Mobile Device Usage Observation survey 20%

▪ Almost 1 in 10 motorists using a mobile device.

▪ Consistent across urban roads, rural roads, and motorways

18% 16%

13%

14%

11%

12%

9%

10% 8% 6%

Mobile device usage (mobile phones and other mobile devices) 20,551 vehicles at 145 sites Fieldwork was conducted in September and October 2023

6%

9%

8%

9% 7%

5%

6%

4% 2% 0%

Total

Car

LGV 2022

2023

HGV

PSV

Driver attitude and behaviour survey 2023 Nationally representative online survey This national survey establishes the incidence of errant driving behaviour among Irish motorists.

It is used to determine motorist's attitudes to a series of road safety measures; and analyses the extent to which these attitudes and behaviours are consistent both across demographic criteria and over time.

The research comprised a nationally representative online survey of 1,252 motorists aged 17+: Quota controlled in terms of gender, age, region and area.

Fieldwork was conducted in November 2023.

Profile of those who DFW Driver Attitude & Behaviour Survey 2023

Transporting myself*

Who? • 66% male • 39% aged 17-34 years • 34% aged 35-49 years

Transporting goods Transporting other person(s) I use vehicles as part of my job (e.g. drive construction/agricultural vehicles) Other

Base: Motorists who drive for work, n - 304 *(e.g., visiting patients, salesperson,…)

Type of vehicle?

• 76% drive a car for work • 23% used other types of vehicles when they drive for work How far?

• 55% drove less than 5,001 km • 45% drove 5,001+ km in the last 12 months

Self-report engagement in dangerous behaviours Driver Attitude & Behaviour Survey 2023 Behaviours

Scale

Statement

Motorists

Drive for work

Speeding

At least

Exceed speed limit in 50 km road by more than 10 km/h

31%

43%*

sometimes.. Exceed speed limit in 100 km road by more than 10 km/h

25%

38%*

Overtake the car in front even when it keeps appropriate speed (on roads with 100km or 120 km speed limit)

28%

39%*

Seat belts

Always

How often do you use a seat belt when you are a DRIVER

97%

90%*

Alcohol

Yes

Have you driven a motor vehicle after consuming any alcohol drink in the last 12 months

10%

14%

Fatigue

Yes

Have you ever fallen asleep or nodded off while driving

21%

28%*

14% indicated they had 'ever fallen asleep or nodded off while driving for work'

1 in 5 drivers (20%) who drive for work were involved in a collision while driving a motor vehicle in which there was damage to their vehicle or another vehicle (compared to 10% of all motorists) in last 5 yrs * Statistically significant for those who drive for work

Base: All Motorists n – 1,252, Drive for work n - 304

Mobile Phone Behaviour in Car 2023: Actions Base: All Motorists n – 1,252, Drive for work – 304 At least sometimes...

All motorists

Those who drive for work

Talk on a mobile hands-free

57%

70%*

Talk on a mobile hand-held

13%

27%*

Check phone notifications

21%

34%*

Read messages/emails

16%

29%*

Write messages/emails

9%

22%*

Check social media

8%

17%*

Respond to social media posts

6%

15%*

Take photos/videos to share on social media

6%

16%*

ANY Read messages/emails, check notifications or social media

25%

41%*

ANY Write messages/emails, respond to social media

11%

27%*

*Statistically significant for those who drive for work for 'at least sometimes...'

Q. How often do you use your mobile phone while driving to do the following?

Summary In a fatal collision with a HGV Driver the other party is more likely to die, rather than the HGV driver.

In serious injury collisions where a HGV driver is involved, it is the driver of the other vehicle who is most likely to sustain the serious injury.

Concerning level of speeding noted among HGV drivers on 100km/h roads.

Survey data shows significantly higher levels of engagement in all dangerous behaviours among those who drive for work.

Education and awareness around safe driving behaviours required for all those who drive for work, not just HGV/LGV drivers.

More Irish research required.

New survey with Commercial Drivers Include both HGV and bus drivers This survey will include several areas specific to the work of commercial drivers as well as general driver behaviour questions as found in the Driver Attitude and Behaviour survey The survey will include areas such as a o o o o o o

work profile – type of vehicles driven, kilometres nationally & internationally driving for work policy – topics covered, training working hours – working time both as a commercial driver and in other employment enforcement – commercial driving enforcement use of technology – ADAS, map systems, training driver behaviour – fatigue, seat belt use, speeding

Plan to go live end November 2024 It will be available online through the RSA website Responses will be completely anonymous

Thank you Velma Burns Research Manager vburns@rsa.ie