According to a report from Bibby Financial Services, nearly a third (29%) of business drivers in small and medium-sized businesses admitted to having been over an hour late for an important business meeting due to lack of forward planning and 15% were late because of incorrect directions.
Nonetheless, business drivers are taking all kinds of short cuts to save time, with 42% eating while travelling and 15% breaking the law by using their mobile phones without a hands-free kit while driving - just to save time.
Almost a quarter (23%) claimed they were even prepared to pay parking fines in order to get to meetings on time.
David Robertson, global chief of Bibby Financial Services, said: "Small business managers should heed the warning and make time to prepare, particularly in a climate of such economic uncertainty when losing a customer due to poor punctuality could have a significant impact on the business."
Business drivers don't have the time to be punctual
Over one million working hours are lost every year by business owners and managers running out of time to make travel preparations.
