The Lorry Drivers’ Facilities Survey, published by independent watchdog Transport Focus, reveals the important role investment in rest stops plays in keeping HGV drivers safe and well rested.
Gathering insights from more than 13,000 HGV drivers over two years, the survey highlights the strong connection between drivers’ ability to rest and how safe they feel.
According to the survey, 90% of drivers who rated vehicle security as ‘good’ also reported being able to rest properly. By contrast, fewer than 40% felt they could rest when they perceived security to be ‘poor’.
The survey also found that despite recent investment, more HGV drivers were dissatisfied with the number and quality of available rest stops in the UK compared to the previous survey.
In 2024/25, 62% of drivers expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of available sites in the UK and 61% were unhappy with the number of suitable stopping locations. Both these figures are up from 49% in the 2023/24 survey.
Investment in HGV rest stops and security
The results of the survey highlight the need for investment in better facilities and improved security.
Freda Rashdi, head of customer journeys at National Highways said: “Drivers need a safe place to stop to rest on their journeys. That’s why, along with industry, we have invested more than £25 million – creating more HGV parking spaces, boosting security, and upgrading lorry park facilities. These are improvements designed to give drivers the safe, comfortable places they need to rest and recharge.”
Louise Collins, director at Transport Focus added: “Lorry drivers play a vital role delivering goods we all rely on right across the country. They need access to high quality facilities to rest – for their own wellbeing but also because of the safety critical nature of that role.”
Rachel Taylor MP, and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freight and Logistics also pointed out the need for increased security measures to protect HGV drivers.
“These survey results from Transport Focus lay bare what [my constituents] frequently tell me: that there is an urgent need to tackle crime and insecurity at rest stops,” said Taylor.
“That’s why I am campaigning for a national freight crime strategy, a new dedicated crime code, and greater investment in policing, so we can ensure every freight driver is able to sleep easy during overnight stops.”
The survey comes amid projections that freight crime costs the UK economy £700 million annually. It also comes at a time of that an increasing number of HGV drivers are leaving the industry.
According to estimates from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) the sector will need an average of 200,000 new drivers to meet demand over the next five years.
