More than two-thirds (70%) of businesses have been impacted by distracted driving incidents causing fleet driver crashes.

Mobile phone use is identified as the primary cause, new research suggests.

Paying the price

The Global Distracted Driving Report, is published by Teletrac Navman.

This also reveals that almost half (49%) of respondents (businesses) say that distracted driving directly costs their business.

Of these, 40% said it caused operational disruptions, 28% said it led to safety and compliance breaches, and 25% experienced reputational damage.

Delivering action

According to the Department for Transport’s 2023 report on Road Accidents and Safety Statistics, there were 14,121 accidents involving light to heavy goods vehicles, including buses and coaches.

“This is a statistic that underscores the need for urgent action, and this report documents how fleet operators around the world are looking to make a significant change,” said Alain Samaha, CEO of Teletrac Navman.

“Safety and distracted driving jeopardises the lives of drivers and the general public but also poses significant commercial risks. These risks can lead to increased insurance premiums and various direct costs associated with safety incidents, underscoring the critical importance of prioritising safe driving practices within the industry.”

Techy times

The report states that fleet operators are employing technology, training, and developing a culture of safety to reduce the number of incidents.

Among the technologies employed, 78% of respondents use advanced telematics solutions.

This includes tools such as forward-facing cameras, driver-facing dash cams and digital coaching apps, which collectively enhance visibility into driver behaviour and operational safety.

 

 

Some 70% of respondents use technology with coaching programmes to reinforce safe driving practices.

This type of fleet training has resulted in 80% of users reporting a positive impact.

Reducing distracted driving solutions has led 73% of respondents to claim effective changes in driver behaviour.

The use of data reveals where solutions have been most effective.

Increasing numbers of digital devices, both built into vehicles and those carried by drivers and passengers, appear to increase distraction levels.

Mobile phone use behind the wheel remains a serious issue, and hands-free phone use has repeatedly been shown to be as dangerous as hand-held phone use.