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How’s My Driving? - Safe Driving Blog Tips

More Than a Badge: 30 Years of Driving Change with How’s My Driving?

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:
 
- The Cycle Safety Sticker, helping reduce HGV/cyclist blind spot collisions
- 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

Blog Archive

2025 July

More Than a Badge: 30 Years of Driving Change with How’s My Driving?

2025 May

New HGV Drivers’ Hours Rules: What Fleet Managers Need to Know

2025 April

Protecting Horse Riders on UK Roads: Why Awareness and Caution Are Key

2025 March

Dangerous Driving and the Role of Real-Time Monitoring

2025 February

Loving Your Tyres This Valentine’s Day Could Save Lives

2025 January

Paving the Way to Better Roads

2024 December

A Year in Review: Road and Cycle Safety Changes, Updates, and More...

2024 November

Essential Tips For Driving Safely in Wet and Cold Weather

2024 October

Schools Leading the Charge on Road Safety

2024 September

Cycling Safety: Parliamentary Debates and Future Changes

2024 August

The Push for Mandatory Safety Features in New UK Cars

2024 July

The Rising Drug-Drive Deaths in the UK: Raising Awareness and Prevention

2024 June

Drink-Drive Limits in the UK: A Road Safety Focus

2024 May

Just the Ticket for Young People in Transport Careers

2024 April

Should First Aid Training Be Mandatory for UK Drivers?

2024 March

Managing Driver Mental Health: A Fleet Manager's Guide to Duty of Care

2024 February

Managing Health Among Drivers

2024 January

Enhancing Road Safety: A Call for Regular Eye Examinations for Drivers Over 60

2023 December

Looking ahead to 2024: Navigating the future of driverless car technology

2023 November

Navigating Winter Roads: 10 Safer Driving Tips

2023 October

New Sentencing Guidelines for Driving Offences in the UK: What You Need to Know

2023 September

Starting a Rewarding Career as an HGV Driver in the UK: A Comprehensive Guide

2023 August

Making Roads Safer: A Shared Responsibility

2023 July

Navigating the road to well-being: The impact of driving on mental and physical health

2023 June

Your Ultimate Guide To Logistics: Fleet Management 101

2023 May

Top tips for staying safe on the roads

2023 April

Using the How's My Driving? Service to promote a safer culture

2023 March

Top 5 tips to run a sustainable fleet

2023 February

Your Satnav could soon offer you the route with the cleanest air

2023 January

Changes to Welsh speed limits to launch in 2023

2022 December

Our guide for driving in different weather conditions

2022 November

Driver wellbeing: Why it is good to talk about mental health

2022 October

The Ultimate Winter Car Kit

2022 September

Road collision rates sliding back towards pre-pandemic levels

2022 August

New government plans could see self-driving vehicles rolled out by 2025

If you would like to get in touch with us to discuss setting your company up with the scheme, you can phone us on 01279 415 480. or email us at info@howsmy.co.uk.