47% of commercial drivers admit to reading texts while driving

93% of commercial drivers say reading a text while driving should be considered distracted driving, yet 47% admit they have read a text while driving their commercial vehicle.

That’s the result of a survey conducted by US-based UFG Insurance. “The attitude doesn’t align with actual behaviour,” said a spokesperson for the company.

UFG Insurance has recently expanded its distracted driving awareness programme which includes specific content for commercial fleets. The “Worth It” programme was launched in 2017 and aims to provide companies with resources to spread the message that distracted driving is dangerous and needs to be stopped.

39% of drivers surveyed by the company also admit to having sent text messages while at the wheel and six in ten have talked on a handheld phone. Moreover, nine in ten fleet drivers said they have engaged in other forms of distracted behaviours, like talking to a passenger, listening to music, changing the radio station or adjusting controls.

A positive number: the UFG survey found that commercial drivers are four times more likely than other drivers to use an app designed to prevent distracted driving.