February 12, 2025
Abby Nuttall
More than one in eight crashes happen on a work journey
Every day, thousands of employees get behind the wheel for work, whether commuting to a meeting, delivering goods, or simply travelling between sites. But, what if those work journeys were far riskier than anyone realises?
We’ve analysed Department for Transport (DfT) data, and can reveal that a significant proportion of road accidents happen on work-related journeys. In fact, more than one in eight (13%) collisions on UK roads occurred on a journey that was part of work. And, one in seven (14%) of those were serious or fatal incidents.
So, what can fleet managers and company drivers do to keep themselves safe? We’ll explore the data in more detail, before providing tips on how to minimise risk.
More than one in four company car accidents happen on wet roads
More than a quarter (27%) of work journey road accidents happen on wet roads. That means more than one in four crashes could potentially be mitigated with better driving awareness, improved vehicle maintenance, and adjusted driving behaviour in poor weather conditions.
The time of year matters, too. November is the most dangerous month, with 2,337 work-related crashes recorded in a year. This amounts to 9% of work journey incidents happening in November. It’s not hard to see why - shorter days, more rain, low-lying sun, and winter frost all contribute to hazardous driving conditions.
June, July, and March are the next worst months for fleet collisions at 2,270, 2,246 and 2,189 collisions, respectively.
17% of company trip collisions occur on a Friday
Friday sees the highest number of work journey crashes, amounting to 17%.
Simon Naylor, Director at Wessex Fleet, explains: “It’s a surprising trend, but it makes sense when you break it down. By Friday, drivers are often mentally checking out, thinking ahead to weekend plans, or trying to finish work early. That distraction, combined with fatigue, creates a perfect storm for mistakes on the road.”
Whereas, Monday sees the least company trip collisions during the typical work week (Mon-Fri) at 13%.
For fleet managers, tackling this means building driving awareness and encouraging safer driving habits, especially at the end of the week. Strategies like staggered scheduling to prevent last-minute rushes, and reinforcing the importance of rest breaks, can help.
Crashes peak at 8 AM, 3 PM and 4 PM
Time of day plays a crucial role in accidents, too. Our analysis has found that work-related incidents peak at 8 AM, 3 PM, and 4 PM. The morning rush sees employees hurrying to their first job, while the afternoon spikes could be linked to increased traffic from school runs.
Simon Naylor advises: “Fleet managers can take proactive steps to reduce risk during these peak times. Simple measures like adjusting shift start times to stagger departures and encouraging employees to plan routes with less congested roads can make a real difference.”
The locations with the most work-related crashes
Some locations experience a significantly higher proportion of work-related collisions. London Airport (Heathrow) has come out on top for having the highest percentage of crashes involving work journeys, at 40%.
|
Rank | Local Authority | % of work-related crashes |
1 | London Airport (Heathrow) | 40% |
2 | City of London | 36% |
3 | Perth and Kinross | 25% |
3 | City of Edinburgh | 25% |
4 | Westminster | 23% |
5 | Kensington and Chelsea | 21% |
6 | Argyll and Bute | 20% |
6 | Isles of Scilly | 20% |
6 | Brighton and Hove | 20% |
6 | Inverclyde | 20% |
The City of London follows behind Heathrow Airport at 36%, making the capital the second worst for work-related crashes. Perth & Kinross and Edinburgh witness the third most work trip accidents at 25%.
Interestingly, four of the locations with the highest proportion of work crashes are in London, and four are in Scotland. London has a large population and is a dense urban area, so this might not be that surprising. But Scotland is quite the opposite, which suggests rural roads and long-distance travel might play a role.
Regions with the most serious work-related collisions
Beyond the frequency of work trip collisions, the severity of these incidents matters. Some regions report a higher number of severe or fatal collisions for work-related journeys.
|
Rank | Region | % of work-related crashes that are severe or fatal |
1 | Scotland | 39% |
2 | Wales | 38% |
3 | North West | 30% |
4 | Yorkshire and Humber | 28% |
5 | South East | 27% |
5 | North East | 27% |
5 | East of England | 27% |
6 | South West | 26% |
6 | East Midlands | 26% |
7 | West Midlands | 24% |
8 | London | 16% |
Scotland has the highest number of severe or fatal crashes on work journeys, at 39%, followed closely by Wales at 38%. Both of these regions have many rural roads. According to Brake, the road safety charity, rural roads account for over half of all fatal crashes in the UK and are the most dangerous type of road for all road users.
Simon Naylor says: “Our analysis highlights how important it is that fleet managers take the time to educate drivers on driving safely on rural roads. Fleet managers should also be ensuring that drivers understand the Highway Code, alongside checking vehicles and making sure they’re serviced regularly.”
What fleet managers can do to reduce accidents
Reducing work-related crashes isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes - it’s about making practical changes that keep drivers safe. One of the most effective steps is driver training and awareness.
“Fleet managers should hold regular safety sessions to help drivers anticipate risks and make better decisions on the road,” suggests Simon Naylor.
Reinforcing best practices, such as maintaining safe following distances, adapting to weather conditions, and minimising distractions, can significantly reduce accident rates.
Telematics also offer valuable insights and are a great tool for fleet management safety.
Telematics are an essential part of Wessex Fleet’s fleet management solutions. They provide you with a lot of information and can improve vehicle safety by identifying mechanical issues. They can also identify driving issues, such as bad driving habits, which can help you to rectify them quickly.
Investing in your vehicles by keeping on top of maintenance is crucial for safety. Not to mention, investing in vehicle safety technology can be a game changer for reducing accidents.
“Features like lane assist, automatic emergency braking, and fatigue detection systems provide an extra layer of protection,” says Simon Naylor.
Methodology
We analysed Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Collision Analysis Tool, looking at the latest data available (2023), a total of 189,815 crashes, where 25,487 of those were collisions that involved a ‘journey as part of work’.