Driving and Its Work-Related Distractions
The More You Know, the Better the Protection
There’s no getting around it — distracted driving is dangerous.
Click the boxes below to reveal the answer.
After surveying over 1,000 employees who drive in the U.S., Travelers has gained valuable insight into common driving habits and the work-related distractions that affect them.
Understanding these trends can help businesses encourage safer driving behaviors and start a conversation with their independent agent about personal and company vehicle usage.
of employees who drive use their personal vehicle for business purposes, not including getting to and from work.
do this at least once a week.
do this every day.
Driving Off the Clock
What percentage of employees who drive use a company vehicle for personal use?
What percentage of employees who drive use a company vehicle for personal use at least once a week?
Distraction: Rampant and More Than Just Talk
of employees who drive answer or
make work-related communications while driving.
They answer and/or make phone calls for work.
They read and/or send texts for work.
They read and/or send emails for work.
Work Pressure Is a Factor
Respondents said some of the reasons they engage in work-related communication while driving include:
- Available Anytime
- FOMO
- Need to Please
- Always On
Available Anytime
38% feel the need to always be available.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
37% don’t want to miss something important.
Need to Please
17% are afraid of upsetting their boss if they don’t answer.
Always On
15% are not able to mentally shut off from work.
No Generation Is Immune to Work-Related Distraction
As the charts below suggest, although work-related distraction decreases with age, all ages drive distracted.
Percentage of employees who drive that answer/make work-related communications while driving:
54%
18-34 years old
54%
35–44 years old
37%
45–54 years old
33%
55–64 years old
It’s Not Just Millennials
Percentage of employees who drive that admit to business-related communications while driving:
Millennials (ages 18-34)
54%
Gen Xers (ages 35-44)
54%
Percentage of employees who drive that text or call a co-worker when they know the colleague is driving:
Millennials (ages 18-34)
24%
Gen Xers (ages 35-44)
24%
More Gen Xers Drive Their Car for Work
of Gen Xers drive their
personal vehicle for work
at least once a week.*
of all other generations
of workers.*
*Not including getting to and from work
What percentage of employees who drive say their boss has called and/or texted even though they knew they were driving?
10%
16%
16%
27%
27%
10%
10%
Incorrect!
27%
of employees who drive say their boss has called and/or texted even though they knew they were driving.
Correct!
27%
of employees who drive say their boss has called and/or texted even though they knew they were driving.
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Travelers from Sept. 12–14, 2017, among 1,146 U.S. employees who drive ages 18+. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Judy Senechal, jlsenech@travelers.com.
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