European roads have become more dangerous over the past five years. This is the perception of 95 per cent of lorry and van drivers surveyed in the research “The Unseen Toll: Driver Stress and Road Safety”, commissioned by Geotab and conducted by Opinion Matters. The study involved drivers working in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. Even Spain, which registered the “lowest” figure, saw 89 per cent of respondents reporting an increase in accidents, while Ireland and the UK reached 99 per cent and 97 per cent respectively. France and the Netherlands followed closely with 96 per cent and 97 per cent, while Italy and Germany reported 95 per cent and 94 per cent. These figures clearly suggest that the issue is systemic, not limited to individual countries but widespread across the continent.
When asked to identify the most dangerous behaviours they encounter on a daily basis, drivers gave a nearly unanimous answer: mobile phone use by other motorists. Forty-two per cent of all respondents cited this as the most hazardous behaviour, with the percentage rising significantly in some countries. Italy tops the list, with 59 per cent of drivers pointing to improper mobile phone use, followed by Spain with 53 per cent. In the UK, the most commonly cited concern is more general but no less troubling: 44 per cent of drivers referred to the “poor driving of others”, highlighting a broader deterioration in road culture.
But the challenges do not end there. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64 per cent) said heavy traffic and roadworks are significant obstacles in their daily work. In Spain this figure rises to 78 per cent, and in Ireland it reaches 74 per cent, underlining how inadequate infrastructure and poor traffic management are exacerbating an already critical situation.
The study sheds light on a crucial but often overlooked issue: the direct link between psychological pressure and road safety. Seven in ten drivers (70 per cent) acknowledge that stress and mental health directly influence road risks, while an even more striking 91 per cent admit that stress worsens their driving behaviour. These findings become even more concerning when considering that the lowest national figure still exceeds 88 per cent, pointing to a situation that cuts across all countries involved in the research.
The study also explores the relationship between work pressure and speeding. When asked how often they exceed speed limits to meet delivery deadlines, one in two drivers admitted to doing so regularly. The situation is particularly severe in Ireland, where 64 per cent of drivers confessed to routinely breaking speed limits, followed by the Netherlands at 62 per cent and Germany at 59 per cent. Even in countries where the issue appears less acute, the numbers remain significant: 39 per cent of Italian drivers admit to regularly speeding, compared with 40 per cent in France, 46 per cent in the UK and 41 per cent in Spain.
In the face of these alarming trends, there is, however, a willingness among drivers to embrace technological solutions that support safer driving. Sixty-nine per cent of those surveyed expressed a positive view of such tools, with enthusiasm peaking at 80 per cent in the Netherlands and 77 per cent in Ireland. Only in Spain did openness to new technologies drop below 60 per cent. This suggests an interesting correlation: where stress is felt most acutely, interest in telematics, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and digital coaching also tends to rise.
The psychological burden of the job not only impacts road safety but is also driving people away from the profession. Forty-seven per cent of all respondents have considered leaving their job in the past year, a percentage that becomes even more striking in some countries. Ireland again tops this negative ranking, with over 60 per cent of drivers contemplating a career change, while the Netherlands records the lowest – yet still troubling – figure of 34 per cent. This trend is worsening the chronic shortage of drivers already affecting Europe, threatening the operational continuity of the transport sector and increasing recruitment and training costs for companies.
The consequences of this situation extend beyond human and social factors, translating into significant financial costs for fleets. According to the study, poor practices – such as excessive speed, harsh driving and vehicle overloading – combined with traffic congestion drive up maintenance costs and reduce operational efficiency by as much as 10 to 40 per cent in stop-and-go environments. Added to this are higher insurance premiums, increased legal risks, and, not least, the devastating financial and reputational impact that serious accidents can have on transport companies.
