15-05-2025
Truck and van drivers say work pressure pushing them to regularly break speed limit
More than six out of 10 Irish truck and van drivers admitted regularly break the speed limit to complete jobs on time due to work pressure, a new European study has found.
The report entitled The Unseen Toll: Driver Stress and Road Safety was carried out across Europe found that 66% of Irish drivers had considered quitting their jobs due to stress.
The study questioned 3,501 commercial vehicle drivers across Ireland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK in April, with 500 Irish drivers responding.
Half of European drivers surveyed (50% average) admitted feeling the need to regularly break speed limits to complete jobs on time, with Ireland highest at 64%.
Nearly all drivers (95%) consider the risk of accidents to have increased over the last five years, with 61% reporting this increase as 'very' or 'quite significant'. Nearly two-thirds (64% average) stated that excessive traffic or roadworks make completing their jobs difficult.
The survey was carried out on behalf of vehicle technology and solutions company Geotab and comes as more than 200,000 truck driving jobs are unfilled in Europe - a number predicted to rise to 745,000 by 2028.
"These results are a stark reminder of the pressures faced by commercial drivers, impacting road safety for everyone. Europe's economy relies heavily on commercial vehicle drivers, yet stress is pushing them out of the industry and putting road safety at risk," Geotab senior vice-president Edward Kulperger.
Against the backdrop of increased work pressures, many drivers feel unsupported by their employers. Over half (55%) said they feel uncomfortable approaching their employer for support with stress and other mental health concerns, rising to 66% in Ireland and 60% in Germany. Nearly half of respondents (47%) across Europe have considered quitting their jobs in the past 12 months, rising to 66% in Ireland.
"Drivers face significant work-related stress, observe dangerous behaviours daily, and are often pressured by schedules, yet many feel unsupported or uncomfortable seeking help. With nearly half thinking about quitting - and that amidst a driver shortage - it is crucial for employers to provide better mental health support now."
More than two-thirds (69%) of drivers support adopting technology to enhance driving performance. "As an industry, we must prioritise driver wellbeing, employing data and technology not just for efficiency, but to proactively create safer, less stressful environments," Mr Kulperger said.
