26/04/2018

Driving your career

ŠKODA fleet's latest research into the habits of company car drivers has revealed they will spend the equivalent of nearly three years of their working life in the driver's seat.

The in-depth survey was commissioned by ŠKODA to gain insight into life on the road for business drivers. The car manufacturer surveyed 1,000 company car users and the research revealed that the average employee will spend over two and a half hours in their car on a typical working day. That works out at 13 hours a week or 26 days every year. Over a standard 40-year career (age 25-65) this equates to two years and nine months on the road.

The survey by ŠKODA fleet highlighted that company cars are being utilised to the full, with the average driver travelling 235 miles a week or nearly half a million miles (451,200) over the course of their career – the equivalent of driving around the Earth more than 18 times.

A typical company car driver will also lose their temper 307 times a year, make 355 hands-free calls to their boss and drink 614 teas or coffees – all from the comfort of their car.

Each week, as many as five business deals will be clinched whilst in the car, six sandwiches will be eaten and an average of six work-related texts will be sent while on a roadside break. Drivers will rely on their Sat Nav eight times a week and make their way through six packets of crisps.

The research revealed that music plays an important role during the daily commute with a typical professional singing out loud to nearly eight songs a week or 15,000 tracks over their working life. Furthermore 32% of people said that they will play loud music before a meeting to get in the right frame of mind, with The Killers' Mr Brightside found to be the most popular song choice to motivate professionals.

Henry Williams, Head of Fleet for ŠKODA UK, said, 'Every year we conduct research into the wants, needs and habits of our company car drivers; the results of which influence the specialist business car range we offer. We know consumer requirements are evolving all the time so our research ensures our cars are always relevant for the driver.

'The car is more than just a vehicle. For many, it's a mobile office, so technology such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi-hotspot and an infotainment system that keeps you up to date with the latest news channels, weather and fuel prices are as much as necessity as a nice to have.'

The research by ŠKODA found nearly two-thirds of company car owners said they felt like they spent more time in their vehicle than they do sat at home on their sofa, and 52% went further to comment that they felt they spent their life in the car. That said, a third (33%), said that they really enjoyed driving.

A fifth of company car drivers relish their time in the car stating it's the only 'me time' they get to themselves and 71% prefer to drive without any passengers, with 43% saying it gives them time to think about work and make plans in their head.

The research showed that the typical company car owner will spend four hours of every week in a traffic jam, but this has allowed four in ten motorists to make a life changing decision when in the car.

In fact, the average company employee will make four life changing decisions whilst sat behind the wheel.