UK fleet decision-makers are keen for the government to put improving the quality of Britain’s roads and minimising road congestion at the top of their priority list, according to Arval’s recent 2019 Mobility Observatory study.
Following a survey of 3,930 fleet operators, the majority (54%) were keen for the government to tackle the ongoing pothole problem on the UK’s motorways and A and B-roads once and for all.
Meanwhile 47% of fleet decision-makers said that tackling vehicle congestion and taking more cars off the road should also be of great importance for the UK government’s new administration.
Almost a third (30%) of fleet operators were also keen for the government to incentivise newer fuel options such as hydrogen and electric to help meet carbon emissions targets and create greener, more sustainable modes of transport for businesses operating up and down the country.
Elsewhere on the priority list of fleet operators was improvements to public transport (20%) and the need to reduce pollution levels caused by road transport (18%) – the latter of which goes hand-in-hand with the need to incentivise newer, cleaner fuel alternatives.
Shaun Sadlier, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “The striking aspect about the areas highlighted by fleet and mobility managers is that they are all highly practical issues that affect the running of business transport on a day-to-day basis.
“The condition of road and the problem of congestion are a concern because they affect the core efficiency of company transport.
“Businesses want journeys to be predictable and safe, and poor roads and large volumes of traffic have a negative effect on this aim.
“It is also striking the extent to which there is a desire to see government make the adoption of EVs and hydrogen vehicles easier.
“There is clearly growing enthusiasm among businesses for these cars and vans, but also an awareness of the need to make their cost and the level of infrastructure support more appealing.
“Linked to the adoption of zero-emissions fuels is the belief that more should be being done to tackle road transport-based pollution. Our experience is that businesses are almost always supportive of government moves to make improvements in this area.”
On the face of it, some might find it strange that fleet decision-makers are championing improvements to public transport, but Sadlier believes that this viewpoint is rather more “strategic” than meets the eye.
“Businesses see the future of travel as being one where cars and vans are used alongside a range of other options,” added Sadlier.
