Police and motoring groups today called for new measures to protect business motorists after a study showed they face a higher risk of accidents than other drivers.

Managers who drive between appointments typically travel 2.8 per cent faster than the average motorist and are 36 per cent more likely to have an accident, the study involving Southampton Uni-versity found.

They are also quicker on the brake pedal than other drivers, but researchers believe this is unlikely to save them from accidents.

Dr Richard Hall, transport specialist at Southampton University, said: "Our study showed that the risk of having an accident is dramatically higher with higher average speed.

"A one per cent change in driver speed was associated with a 13 per cent increase in accident liability."

Rebecca Rees, AA spokeswoman for the South, said: "Bosses need to be more sympathetic to their managers and make sure that they have ample time to travel to appointments.

"They should also encourage them to stay overnight if travelling to an appointment that is far from home."

Hampshire police traffic and motorway adviser Tony Ennew said: "This survey highlights the pressures on people who use the road network to travel between work appointments and shows they may be reacting to pressures by driving faster and taking undue risks."

He called on companies to offer refresher driving courses and undertake health and safety assessments of managers' use of cars during working hours.

The researchers surveyed thousands of cars throughout the UK and contacted their owners via vehicle registration details.

The study, commissioned by the Highways Agency, also found that young people aged 17-25 drive at a speed four per cent above the national average and people aged 70 and older at four per cent below.

And it found men drive faster and clock up a higher average annual mileage than women.

Alexandre Hamelin, research and policy manager at Southamp-ton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce, said: "This is a problem for managers but not the biggest one they face.

"Ways of dealing with the situation could include better education in companies, possibly including an anti-speeding campaign, and finding alternatives to travelling to a meeting such as holding meetings over the internet or through video-conferencing."

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