Opinion: Prioritising van driver wellbeing as miles rise

By Nick Butler, director at Drivetech

According to recent AA data, in the year to June 2024, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in the UK racked up a whopping 58.7 billion miles. This marks a hefty 10.4% rise from pre-pandemic levels and a 1.9% increase from the previous year. 

This surge is linked to the online shopping boom driven by e-commerce giants like Amazon and the rise in self-employed delivery drivers working for brands like Just Eat and Deliveroo.

Vans cover 18% of all UK miles driven, leaving drivers and employers tackling the increased mental strain that accompanies this rise in numbers – a strain that is set to rise even further as we approach peak delivery season. 

Wellbeing worries 

Drivers often work long hours, many of which are heavily taxing mentally, with drivers navigating increasingly congested roads.

It’s not surprising that, in a study conducted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles last year, one in four UK van drivers reported experiencing mental health issues. 

Two thirds said they felt overwhelmed at least once a month while at work. 

That same study revealed that 60% of UK drivers are extending their work hours to make ends meet, with two in five clocking in over 10 hours daily (despite UK driver regulations), in part to meet tough delivery targets.

In 2021, a poll of over 700 Amazon delivery drivers, conducted by campaign group Organise and shared with MPs, saw 82% of respondents report engaging in dangerous driving to meet targets of up to 300 deliveries a day.

Dangerous driving has a wider societal impact. Five people are killed and 82 seriously injured on UK roads daily. 

Incidents are more likely to happen when drivers are stressed. 

If death or injury happens to employees when driving for work too, employers could be liable for corporate manslaughter. The importance of road safety cannot be overstated, considering the alarming statistics. 

Equally, wellbeing support goes beyond driver benefits for businesses. It can improve driver retention levels too, providing companies with much-needed continuity during peak periods.

There are several ways we can start tackling driver wellbeing with immediate effect. 

Regular breaks 

Long periods of sitting, coupled with the frequent lifting of heavy items, can lead to musculoskeletal problems, fatigue and a range of other health issues, including chronic stress.

Fatigue, stress, and extended time spent behind the wheel pose significant health and safety risks to both drivers and other road users.

Ensuring drivers take regular breaks is crucial. Employers should encourage drivers to adhere to mandatory break regulations.  allowing time to rest, refresh, and reset. 

Short stretching exercises or walking during breaks can also relieve tension from long hours of sitting. 

Improve mental health support 

Offering stress management resources can help drivers handle the demands of their jobs more effectively, while peer support programmes, where drivers share experiences and advice, can help to reduce feelings of isolation. 

At The AA, we have a dedicated wellbeing strategy in place, which includes mental health e-learning and support. 

As a result of this policy, we’ve seen improvements in our employee wellbeing survey scores, among other significant wellbeing advancements across the board. 

Encourage hydration

Dehydration is an all-weather issue, regardless of the temperature. It causes fatigue – drivers are more likely to feel tired when dehydrated. 

The European Food Safety Authority recommends women drink 1.6 litres of water daily (eight 200 ml glasses) and men two litres (ten 200 ml glasses). 

If you are not nearing these intake levels and start to feel thirsty on the road, dehydration is already setting in and impacting on your concentration levels, leaving you more likely to make (potentially fatal) mistakes.

Keeping a watch on wellbeing to reap the benefits

As a final note, while all the above advice is highly beneficial to drivers, it doesn’t address the deeper issues at stake. 

For wellbeing initiatives to have a meaningful impact, businesses must embed mental health and wellbeing into their core values, rather than treating them as superficial checkboxes.

When drivers face unrealistic delivery targets, stress levels rise, leading to poor decision making on the road. This not only affects drivers' mental health but endangers others too.

Fostering a culture that genuinely prioritises wellbeing is not just a moral imperative but a critical safety measure. The sooner this starts happening, the better for all road users.