Distracted driving remains a persistent danger on U.S. roads, and its impact on commercial auto insurance is intensifying. According to new research from SambaSafety, 84% of insurers and brokers now view distracted driving as a major threat to commercial auto profitability, an increase of nearly 10 percentage points in just one year. This sharp rise signals growing recognition that driver distraction not only endangers public safety but also drives up costs when crashes occur.
The report, based on responses from 740 fleet, broker, and insurance professionals and an analysis of 500 million miles of driving data covering more than 135 million driver behavior events, highlights how safety risks vary significantly by industry. For example, severe speeding rates differed by more than fivefold across the industries analyzed. Transportation fleets recorded 48 severe speeding events per 100,000 miles, while Construction fleets recorded 254. Such disparities underscore that a one-size-fits-all safety strategy is unlikely to address the unique risks each fleet faces.
Telematics technology is already widely adopted, with 90% of fleet respondents using it to identify unsafe driving patterns. However, turning that data into meaningful action remains a challenge: 53% of fleets say interpreting and acting on telematics data is a leading difficulty. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a solution, with 60% of fleets and 94% of insurers reporting some use of AI to analyze driver risk data and review footage that once required manual processing.
Despite the promise of data-driven safety, the research reveals a disconnect over data sharing. While 52% of brokers cite fleet distrust as a barrier, only 5% of fleets agree. This gap suggests that fleets may be more willing to share information when they understand its purpose and value. “Understanding risk isn’t just about having more data. It’s having the right information to reveal the story behind it,” said Kristy Kennah, Head of Insurance at SambaSafety.
These findings reflect a broader shift in vehicle safety technology. As telematics and AI become more integrated, the focus is moving beyond mere data collection to using insights that identify risks and support safer decisions on the road. For fleets and insurers, the implications are clear: tailored safety programs informed by telematics can help reduce crashes and improve profitability. The 2026 Telematics Report is available from SambaSafety, providing a roadmap for organizations seeking to navigate the complex landscape of driver risk.
