Work Mates Driving

[donetello]

Not sure where to post this,We both have vans but work together a fair bit and take turns to pickup and drive to jobs which can be anywhere in UK.He has to be the worst driver I've ever been in with,5 times just this week we have nearly rear ended another vehicle,Constantly speeds and rolls cigs answers phone etc.I have mentioned it to work before and nothing seems to have happened.I don't want to cause a stir as I have to work with him.I feel on edge all the time when he's driving and leave the van feeling like I've just got off a ride at Alton Towers.Constantly drives up the car in fronts arse and then has to slam
the brakes on sending anything on the seat onto the floor and tools etc in back thudding into the seat backs.Any pointers on best way to address the situation welcome.

[jomifl]

Most of you colleague's 'in van' activities are illegal. If you bosses won't do anything about it then they must let you drive independantly. I've had this problem myself, I still clearly remember a trip up the M1 that must have been identical to yours except that we had torrential rain too. Saying anything to the driver would have just increased the danger.

[Peaspeculiars]

Without sounding melodramatic, please have a chat to your bosses again before you end up in a serious accident because of his driving. If you both have vans, just take your own and perhaps say you need to shoot straight off somewhere after work or that you need your van in case you get called away. Worrying stuff really, something needs to change.
Are you close friends with him - would he react badly if you mentioned it to him in passing?

[woofgang]

start taking your own van every where and if asked why say so, politely but definitely. It will be really hard to deal with this from a hospital bed or the undertakers.

[donetello]

If love to take my van but when it's a 200 maybe 300 mile drive the company wouldn't be happy with the fuel bill.I try to do most of the picking up driving anyway.Ive tried the subtle hints like you do know its 60 for a van on dual carriageways etc,are you in a rush to get home and more.Seems to work for all of ten minutes before foot is down again.Hes the only person I know who drives onto roundabouts in fourth or fifth and then tries to gear down half way round it,this also applies to junctions etc.If I did rip into him it would cause bad feeling and as we all know that causes a poor working situation.As mentioned above you just can't relax or look away from the road Inuit incase.

[Peaspeculiars]

I'd take Woofgangs advice. If you can't talk to your colleague direct, take your own van and when asked, spell it out to them politely.
It puts you in difficult position as you sound like you don't want to upset the bosses and put your own career at risk by making a fuss, but - it is obviously affecting you and making you worry about the situation at work when you are at home - your bosses wouldn't want to lose a valued member of staff to stress, but explain to them that this can't carry on. It is the bosses responsibility to have a word with him now as the alternative of you driving separately will cost the business, or it may cost the business if you get signed off with stress/ leave to go to another job.

[2sp_]

What sort of relationship do you have with him? Are you quite matey or do you have a laugh with him?

You could try to make light of it, tell him in a "I'm joking, but I really mean it" way that his driving is awful. Make jokes about writing your will, getting the last rites before you head of on a journey, etc.

[Purple_Popple]

Just tell him you dont feel safe being a passenger with him OR can you not just do the driving instead and swap over ?

[donetello]

Fairly friendly with him and no issues apart from his terrible driving.i do most of the driving anyway but can't do it all the time Cornwall from Sheffield and back I've done a fair few times and other similar journeys.He asks if I want him to take over and I say no I'm ok,but there comes a point where he needs to use his to keep the mileage being to high on just mine.I don't scare easy but it is that bad.Will have a discrete word with work again tomorrow,Cheers for your help fellas.

[Mosaic]

I feel for you, had a similar situation many years ago with a terrible lady driver. My decision not to travel with her engendered a great deal of unpleasantness on her part, but I figured I deserved a life. The unpleasantness passed after a while.
Your employer has a duty of care towards you, and you need to know if you are obliged to travel in this idiot's car.

[EDDIE51]

To hell with the company fuel bill , just tell the company straight out that his driving is so dangerous you refuse to be driven by him. We are talking about saving your life here in all possibility.

[donetello]

Mosaic and EDDIE you're both correct,as you've said bad feelings are going to be present if I tell him straight,and I do fear ending up in a smash which I think is inevitable.Im trying to think of a solution which keeps us both happy.I can see I'm not the only one who is or has been in this situation.Ill be calling work tomorrow to run it by them again.What I find ironic is he will point out kn##heads as he calls them on the phone,then his rings and he answers it,anyone get that ?.

[woofgang]

booger "happy" alive and uninjured is more important. Does your phone take video? could you video him?

[pixie373]

You need to put it in writing to your bosses, so it's there in black and white and the onus is on them. A little bit of bad feeling is better than a serious injury, or worse. Please speak to them asap.

[joko]

install a dash cam in both vans, with sound and maybe one that shows speed if possible.

you could speak to the bosses and ask them to tell him its a new rule that it must be on all the time.

you can buy them on ebay very cheap, i got one for about £16 - if your bosses wont pay for them, at least its only £30-odd out your pocket, but if it makes him start to take more care because he knows hes on camera, its a good deal.

i realise it may not stop him eating and using his phone, but if he thinks he can be heard he may do it...

[society]

You mentioned you have your own work-van; why not drive yourself to and from work. Your life is more valuable and important than a free ride.

[donetello]

Society, as posted above,both have vans and sometimes a job needs 2 people and if a fair distance away one picks other one up,more likely than not and because of this issue it's me doing long stints around the country.So both vans company owned,There's no way I would set foot in his van except for work travel.We have been asked to split the travel over both vans to keep mileage down on both,and it looks a bit odd if he picks me up and I say jump over ill be driving again.As I don't want to make it an issue for reasons posted before,I'll be speaking to someone in authority at work tomorrow.

[donetello]

Big thanks to all who posted,appreciate you all taking the time to try to help out.

[SpikeyBush]

The institute of advanced motorists do corporate packages that can reduce the insurance costs for your employer. Put this forward as a suggestion to reduce costs. www.iam.org.uk
They took me as a boy racer in my Viva and made a responsible driver out of me so your colleague should be a walk in the park for them.

[north star]

As an aside from the above, if you share the driving on a trip, I would be making notes on who was driving when and where, for when, what appears to be, the inevitable NIP comes through the post.

[chris1957au]

guess you need to talk to you mate and tell him the truth.