How’s My Driving? - Safe Driving Blog Tips
30 years ago, we were printing stickers, fielding phone calls, and championing a radical idea: what if road safety didn’t just come from enforcement or gadgets, but from open, public feedback?
Fast forward to 2025, and How’s My Driving? has grown into something far bigger than a phone number on the back of a vehicle. It's a movement. A nudge. A conversation between drivers, fleet managers, and the people they share the road with, all working together to build a safer, more responsible road culture.
As we turn 30, we’re celebrating not just how far we’ve come, but what it’s proven possible.
Why we started
“When we first launched, people thought we were mad,” says founder Ross. “We were saying, ‘Let the public call in and give feedback on your drivers.’ In the 90s, that wasn’t exactly mainstream thinking.”
But we knew something was missing on the roads: a way for people to speak up, not just in anger, but in appreciation and for fleets to listen, learn, and improve without judgment.
What started as a freephone line and a manually logged call sheet has grown into a dynamic, real-time system used by thousands of vehicles across the UK. But our mission hasn’t changed: better communication = safer roads.
Throwing it back
Remember dial-up internet? Corded phones? In the 90s, feedback came in through a freephone line and was logged manually. Today, the HMD platform is digital, dynamic, and evolving. You can:
- View live reports
- Track trends over time
- Download custom safety summaries
- Run positive feedback reports to support driver incentives
And yet…the principle remains the same: public feedback, responsibly managed, makes roads safer.
Education, support & responsibility
Driving can be a lonely and high-pressure job. The HMD service creates a subtle but effective sense of connection: between driver and manager, fleet and public, feedback and improvement.
We’re proud to support that journey with:
- Real-time alerts that allow fleet managers to respond quickly
- Toolbox talks and training materials to support driver development
- Driver recognition programs that celebrate safe and positive behaviour
As Ian, the MD, explains: “The biggest hurdle is helping companies understand that this is a journey. You don’t ‘complete’ road safety. It’s a living, evolving effort. That’s why the badge still matters 30 years on.”
Beyond fleets: Building something bigger
We’ve always believed that small actions create real impact. That’s why How’s My Driving? has used member subscriptions to quietly support UK-wide safety efforts, including:
- School-based Walking Bus initiatives
- Driver training programmes in partnership with Drive Alive
- Funding for grassroots road safety campaigns
It’s a model that works: low cost, high return, not just in terms of fleet safety, but public trust.
30 days, 30 stories
To mark our 30th birthday, we’re sharing stories, insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and a few surprises throughout July. From the early days of call recordings and stickers to our digital future, this month is a tribute to everyone who’s been part of the journey. Follow along on our
LinkedIn here.
Looking ahead
As new technologies enter the world of road safety, from AI to automation, one thing hasn’t changed: behaviour still matters. And behaviour is shaped by culture.
At How’s My Driving?, we believe the future of road safety lies in accountability, not control. Empowering people to speak up. Encouraging fleets to listen. Helping drivers feel seen, not just when they get it wrong, but when they get it right.
Because it’s more than a badge. It’s a movement. And it only works when we all take part.
01 July 2025