Driving up the costs: Distracted driving is costing fleets

70% of businesses have been impacted by distracted driving incidents according to new research by Teletrac Navman.

“The Global Distracted Driving Report”, which surveyed 421 fleet professionals around the world, outlines the impact of distracted driving on businesses. Outside of obvious safety concerns, the report found that distracted driving resulted in a direct financial cost, with 49% of participants admitting this was the case. A further 40% indicated that distractions resulted in operational disruptions, while 28% said they led to safety and compliance issues and a massive 25% said they led to reputational damage.

The research has highlighted mobile phone use as the leading cause of driver distraction, with 68% of respondents identifying it as a top contributor.

Among the distractions, the report also highlighted: eating and drinking (48%), fatigue (32%), stress (24%), external distractions (18%), passenger conversations (16%) and infotainment usage (12%).

For context, a Department of Transport report on Road Accidents and Safety in 2023 stated that 14,121 accidents involved light to heavy goods vehicles.

CEO of Teletrac Navman, Alain Samaga, said: “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 significant change.”

He continued: “[…] 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.”

Training and technology are being increasingly utilised by fleets to reduce the number of incidents, including tools like forward-facing cameras, driver-facing dash cams and digital coaching apps. The report indicated that respondents felt these initiatives improved their driving, with 73% saying they believed these solutions effectively reduced distracted driving.

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