29% of Accidents Occur within 1 Minute of Max Speed

A recent analysis of patterns in accident data finds that 29% of accidents happened within one minute of the driver reaching the maximum speed during their trip. The remaining 71% of accidents occurred within the first 10 minutes of reaching maximum speed.

by Staff

April 11, 2018

2 min to read

*Photo of a car crash courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.*

The findings come from Geotab, a telematics technology provider, and are based on data collected over a ten month period from Feb. 1 to Nov. 12, 2016. The objective of the analysis was to explore how accident data patterns and telematics can improve driver safety.

The analysis also looked at speed prior to impact and showed that just over half (51%) of accidents occurred below 40 mph in city driving conditions. In addition, the data was assessed to determine the maximum speed drivers in an accident were going, finding that 32% of vehicles had a maximum speed above 70 mph during the trip in which an accident occurred.

Geotab also evaluated the time from the start of a trip to a collision. The findings show that 33% of accidents occurred within the first 10 minutes of getting behind the wheel, while the majority (54%) happened within the first 20 minutes of a trip.

Geotab data is derived at aggregate from more than 1 million commercial vehicles in Geotab's data environment with vehicles that range in size from small passenger cars to class 8 heavy-duty trucks.

Topics:Research Accidents Geotab Telematics Safety

More Safety

Close-up of a Jeep Wrangler front grille and headlight with text noting Stellantis’ recall of 1.3 million Jeep vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk tied to power steering wiring.

Safety•by Staff•June 10, 2026

Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk

Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.

Road signs pointing to “Safe” and “Risky” beside a glowing AI network graphic, illustrating the role of artificial intelligence in driver safety, coaching, training, and risk management.

Safety•June 10, 2026

Coaching Is Not Training, Even When AI Is Doing It

AI-powered safety platforms can detect risky behaviors and deliver immediate feedback. But effective driver development still requires a foundation of training followed by coaching that reinforces those skills.

Driver resting in a vehicle seat, illustrating the dangers of fatigue and the importance of driver wellness, rest, and alertness for safe fleet and roadway operations.

Safety•by Judie Nuskey•June 9, 2026

How Emotions Behind the Wheel Can Affect Fleet Safety

During National Safety Month, fleets are encouraged to look beyond distracted driving and recognize how stress, fatigue, and emotional well-being influence driver performance and crash risk.

From Our Partners

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Nominations Open for 2026 Fleet Safety Award

Nominations have officially opened for the 2026 Fleet Safety Award Winner.

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.