Entrepreneurs driving into danger

Owners of small firms are putting themselves and their businesses in danger through bad driving habits like chatting on mobile phones, eating and drinking, getting lost and incurring parking fines. These are the findings of a survey from Bibby Financial Services that reveals 42 per cent of entrepreneurs confess to eating and drinking behind the wheel and almost a quarter own up to using their mobile phone without a hands-free kit, which has been illegal since 2003. Rule 126 of the Highway Code states that ‘Safe driving needs concentration, so avoid distractions when driving such as:- * loud music (this may mask other sounds) * trying to read maps * programming the sat-nav system * inserting a cassette or CD or tuning a radio * arguing with your passengers or other road users * eating, drinking and smoking * using the phone! They are all clearly distractions, indeed more than a quarter of business drivers have experienced a ‘near miss’ due to these sort of irresponsible actions. Despite supposedly saving time by eating and phoning on the move, a quarter of entrepreneurs still managed to arrive over an hour late to important meetings, often due to poor planning that leads to wasted time driving around lost. A further third suffered at the hands of traffic wardens after parking illegally. A good, reliable source of transport is crucial, particularly for those with a business to run, but owners and managers need to look at their driving habits and those of their team to ensure it is as safe as possible for themselves and other road users too. Ensure everyone is aware of the legal implications of their driving habits and also best practice advice and guidance. Encourage people to leave plenty of time for their journey, and take the opportunity for a break and to make any necessary calls at a café or service station near to your destination. With more and more vehicles on the roads, and with many drivers ill-equipped to deal with adverse driving conditions, safe driving is crucial for survival. Back