Behaviour – not road conditions or mileage – is the dominant factor in collision risk, according to new research by Motive.

Drowsiness, distraction and aggressive driving consistently precede incidents

The 2026 AI Road Safety Report from the AI-powered fleet technology specialist shows that drowsiness, distraction and aggressive driving consistently precede incidents, reinforcing the need for fleets to take action on distracted and unsafe behaviour.

The report analyses safety events captured in 1.2 billion hours of dashcam video to identify when, where, and why collisions occurred from 2024 to 2025.

Other key findings include that mobile phone use is among the top five risky behaviours linked to collisions, with use peaking in late afternoons. Among truck fleets, drivers in agriculture show the highest rates of mobile phone use.

The data also reveals that late-night driving is more dangerous than rush hour. Collision risk peaks at 3am, when it triples compared to midday.

Motive said the research shows the pressing need for driving analytics and why we need technology more than ever to help fleet managers and drivers tackle challenges leading to collisions.

Nyanya Joof, head of UK at Motive, said: “We’re in the thick of it right now – icy roads and poor visibility put enormous strain on UK fleets in the winter months. Our data shows that collision rates climb steadily as days get shorter, weather becomes more unpredictable, and traffic volumes increase ahead of the holidays.

“But professional drivers don’t have the option to stay home – deliveries have to continue in all conditions. That’s where AI can make a real difference. When organisations have real-time alerts and hands-free communication built directly into their vehicles, they can detect danger sooner, respond to risk instantly and keep drivers safe, even when conditions are at their worst.”

The 2026 Motive AI Road Safety Report is online here.