Company car drivers fined every 50 seconds

Company car drivers committed a motoring offence every 50 seconds and racked up more the £7 million in fines during 2012, according to research from Lex Autolease. 

More than 121,000 motoring offences were committed by company car drivers this year, a 10% increase compared to 2011.

Based on a standard working pattern of 35 hours per week, this corresponds to one motoring offence every 50 seconds.

The research is based on data taken from Lex Autolease’s fleet of 270,000 vehicles.

Speeding and illegal parking were the most common type of infringements committed in a company vehicle, accounting for two thirds of all offences. 

The number of offences committed in these categories rose sharply between 2011 and 2012, with a 12% increase in speeding and a 13% rise in parking infringements.

The research also reveals that more company car drivers are using bus lanes to speed up their journey. 

The number of offences for bus lane infringements rocketed by 30% between 2011 and 2012 and now accounts for 10% of all offences. 

In contrast the number of congestion charge fines incurred by drivers in a company vehicle fell by 8% since 2011, which suggests the majority of motorists are now aware of Transport for London’s congestion charging scheme.  

Ian Thomson, head of fleet operations at Lex Autolease, said; “In general, company car and van drivers are under significant pressure to complete each journey as quickly and efficiently as possible and hit tight deadlines. 

“Unfortunately this pressure can also have a negative impact on their driving behaviour. 

“It is worrying to see an increase in the total number of motoring offences and in particular a rise in speeding-related infringements. 

“Fleet managers have placed a great emphasis on health and safety during the last few years. 

“Under their duty of care obligations they must continue to educate their drivers about the need to drive safely and the consequences of poor motoring behaviour.”

Motoring offence committed in a company vehicle 2011 and 2012  

*Includes endorsable and non-endorsable offences such as dangerous driving, driving without due care & attention, driving into a box junction etc.