What van driver risk data is telling fleets

The pressure on van drivers is nothing new, but Fleet Operations’ latest risk assessment data suggests it may be having a real impact on road safety.

Analysis of more than 9,000 online driver risk assessments found that van drivers were more likely than car drivers to be rated ‘high risk’. The difference was most noticeable in pressure to meet deadlines and time spent driving, with fatigue also emerging as a major issue across both groups.

This serves as an important reminder for fleets to look at the bigger picture. Risk assessment data, when used well, can help employers identify any drivers that may need support and the wider operational pressures that can influence safety behind the wheel.

For many businesses, vans are the workhorses that keep operations moving, supporting mobile workers who have to juggle busy schedules and whatever the road throws at them.

These same pressures, however, can also increase risk.

What the data shows

Fleet Operations’ analysis found that van drivers were more likely than car drivers to be flagged as ‘high risk’ overall, with 5.86% of van drivers falling into this category, compared to 3.34% of car drivers.

The same pattern also appeared elsewhere, with van drivers more likely to be flagged for fatigue, pressure to meet deadlines and time spent driving.

These figures support what many in the industry already suspect – that van drivers often work under more day-to-day pressure than company car drivers.

The bigger message, however, is that risk management is not just about identifying which drivers need support. It should also help employers understand what is causing or adding to the risk.

Why van drivers stand out

It’s not hard to see why van drivers typically have a higher risk profile.

They often work to tight schedules, make multiple stops, regularly load and unload their vehicles or spend long periods behind the wheel as part of their working day.

For many, driving is only one part of their role. They may also be technicians, engineers, installers or service workers who are expected to get jobs done and stay on schedule. This means managing their work and the road at the same time.

Fleet Operations’ data reflects this. While fatigue was a significant issue across both groups, van drivers were much more likely than car drivers to score ‘high risk’ for deadline pressure and time spent driving.

Fleets should therefore look beyond the headline score.

A driver may be flagged as ‘high risk’ on paper, but the reasons will not always be the same. One may be struggling with workload and tight schedules, another may be covering a more demanding route in a busy urban area, while someone else may be dealing with stress outside work that affects their focus and decision-making.

This is why it is important to look at the bigger picture. A risk score can be useful, but it should be the start of a conversation, not the end of it.

Looking beyond the score

The real value of a risk assessment lies in how results are used.

A score can flag that a driver may need attention, but when it is considered alongside other information – such as collisions, licence points, incident history and, where available, vehicle or journey data – it becomes much more useful. It starts to show where risk may be coming from.

This kind of data can also shine a light on wider business pressures.

If fatigue, time pressure, long driving hours or repeat incidents keep appearing, it may suggest the issue is not just the driver, but also workload, staffing levels, route planning or the wider working environment.

Two drivers can be flagged as ‘high risk’ for very different reasons. One may spend most of their time on rural roads, while another may be driving in central London, dealing with traffic and vulnerable road users. The right support for one may not be right for the other.

This is where a tailored response becomes important. Instead of sending every flagged driver on the same training course, employers can use the integrated data to decide what support is most appropriate. This might mean targeted coaching, better journey planning or a closer look at the demands of the job.

Used in this way, driver risk analysis can become a really practical and effective tool.

The business impact of driver pressure

Three findings stand out from the Fleet Operations data – fatigue, deadline pressure and hours spent driving.

Fatigue was found to be a major issue for both car and van drivers, with almost one in five in each group rated ‘high risk’. This is something every fleet should take seriously.

For van drivers, busy schedules and long hours on the road can make fatigue worse. If they do not have enough time to stop and clear their heads between jobs, the whole business can be impacted.

Employers need to ask some basic questions. Are workloads realistic? Are routes workable? Is enough time allowed between appointments? And do managers recognise how job pressure can affect the way someone drives?

The most effective intervention can sometimes be just a better conversation between the employer and driver about workload, route planning and expectations.

Road risk is also a wellbeing issue

Drivers will not start every journey with a clear head. They may be feeling work stress, suffering from a lack of sleep, have worries at home or money concerns.

With mobile workers spending so much of their time away from a fixed workplace however, they can often be overlooked when it comes to wellbeing strategies.

Driving for work should be part of everyday conversations about wellbeing and safety, and fleets should take a more supportive approach to risk management, combining data with targeted action, rather than relying on blanket policies or one-size-fits-all training.

The case for acting now

Employers are likely to face increasing scrutiny over how they manage road risk, as the newly created government road safety policy is expected to put more emphasis on employer duty of care.

Fleets, however, do not need to wait for future changes before doing something about it.

The duty to manage work-related road risk already exists. The key question is whether, if a collision or incident happened tomorrow, the business could show it had taken sensible steps to assess risk and act on concerns.

Fleet Operations’ data should be seen as a prompt to act sooner and better understand what factors are influencing their road safety aspirations.

Taking pressure off drivers is one of the most practical ways to make driving safer.

Data source: Fleet Operations internal analysis of more than 9,000 online driver risk assessments completed in 2025.