Company car drivers are six times more likely than private car owners to be stuck without a spare wheel after getting a puncture, the RAC has claimed.
According to analysis of the motoring organisation’s fleet breakdown statistics, more than 160 company car drivers find themselves stranded at the roadside without a spare tyre every day.
Last year, wheel changes accounted for a quarter (24%) of RAC Business’ call-outs. In 2014, 12% of fleet drivers suffering punctures were without a spare wheel, compared to 2% of private drivers.
An RAC spokeswoman said that company car drivers are more prone to being stranded because fleet drivers are driving newer vehicles than private customers.
The RAC is also predicating that by 2018 it will be dealing with 100,000 ‘puncture, no spare’ call-outs every year, a 60% increase from current levels, due to the majority of new cars not being sold with a full-size spare wheel.
“The move away from spare wheels in the boot brings clear environmental and fuel-saving benefits,” said Jenny Powley, sales director, corporate business, RAC Business. “However, it’s obvious from these figures that fleet drivers are particularly prone to finding themselves stuck at the side of the road with only a puncture repair kit to help them.”