Drivers are being involved in crashes after travelling fewer miles overall.

This is one of the conclusions in a new report on professional drivers internationally.

The huge increase in the number of delivery drivers due to online ordering could be a factor.

Along with this, the surge in training and shorter training of new HGV drivers to reduce shortages following Brexit and the pandemic has led to an increase in new, inexperienced professional drivers on the roads.

Crash bang

Professional drivers in the UK are driving fewer miles before a collision.

This suggests a need for an increased focus on safety among British fleets.

Geotab is a global market leader in connected transportation solutions.

Their research found that the total distance per collision driven by truck, van and taxi operators in the UK decreased by almost one-fifth (19.12%) in 2023, from 920,000 miles to 740,000 miles.

For a large British company running a fleet of 1,000 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), each driving 75,000 miles annually, the 2023 data could represent an additional 20 collisions annually.

“Keeping drivers and other road users safe should be a top priority for all fleet decision-makers,” said David Savage, Vice President for the UK and Ireland at Geotab.

“Just over 20% of all road casualties occur in driving-for-work collisions. As an industry, we have a duty to reduce these numbers – which we can with better safety measures.”

Understanding the data

In its ‘2024 State of Commercial Transportation’ report, Geotab analysed telematics data from one million commercial vehicles globally.

It found the overall trend to be an increase in collisions.

Germany is the worst-performing market, posting a nearly one-third (27.3%) reduction in miles before an accident.

Only a few markets bucked this trend, with Spain (+5.66%), Italy (+5.25%), and Brazil (+4%) seeing the most significant rise in miles driven before a collision. This suggests that fleet operators in these countries had taken measures to improve vehicle safety.

 

Improving our approach to safety

Geotab is working with UK companies to enhance the ability to analyse their safety programmes with predictive analytics and benchmarking.

Through the Geotab ‘Safety Center, ’ fleet operators can use predictive collision analytics to gain insights into the risk of collisions.

The ‘2024 State of Commercial Transportation’ study found that fleets using Geotab’s safety features have shown a 40% reduction in collision rates.

This result alone suggests that professional drivers benefit from extra fleet training and ongoing training throughout their careers.

More training

Delving into key trends, challenges, and potential within the industry, the report highlights the pivotal role of advanced telematics in optimising fleet operations.

By leveraging data intelligence and cutting-edge AI models, fleets can enhance safety measures, improve productivity, and reduce costs amidst rising fuel prices, regulatory shifts, and economic uncertainties.

This report is available for free and can be accessed on the Geotab website: https://www.geotab.com/uk/state-of-commercial-transportation-2023/