In 2022, overall risky driving behaviors by fleet drivers improved 29% over 2019, according to Lytx’s fifth annual State of the Data report for trucks and vehicle fleets.

Collisions per 1 million miles driven also dropped, resulting in a 23% decrease from 2019 to 2022.

The report is based on over 36 billion miles of new driving data captured through Lytx’s DriveCam event recorders from real-world fleets that are Lytx customers. The latest data indicates drivers using Lytx technology and safety programs are experiencing long-term improvements in safe driving, notes the company.

Lytx captured more than 14 million risky driving incidents within vehicle fleets in 2022. However, several risky driving behaviors improved from 2021 to 2022. For example, the behavior that improved most was drivers failing to scan the roadway — dropping by 18%.

Better Driving Behavior

Other risky behaviors that ranked among the top five for greatest improvement include:

• Staring blankly, which decreased 16%

• Driving too fast for conditions, down 11%.

• Seat belt compliance improved, too, with drivers unbelted on residential roads down 10%.

• Drivers also experienced a decrease in veering off identifiable roadway, which dropped by 9%.

Noteworthy, while various driving habits improved over the last year, “driving too fast for conditions” was also the number one improved risky driving habit when comparing 2022 to 2020, down 52%. And it was the number two improved habit — down 74% — when comparing 2022 to 2019.

The report also explores where the riskiest driving takes place. New York City remained the number one riskiest driving city for the second consecutive year. Others that ranked among the top five riskiest driving cities include Philadelphia, which took second place, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas/ Fort Worth.

Identifying Collision Risks and Times

The data also spotlights factors that can impact the chances for a collision — such as specific times of day and particular days of the week.

For example, in 2022, the highest total number of collisions occurred during the daytime hours (6am- 4pm), with the most occurring at 11am. Alternatively, the highest collisions per vehicle (those on the road at each hour) occurred in the middle of the night (2am-6am), with 2am the most likely time for a collision.

As for days of the week, in 2022, the highest collisions per vehicle occurred on Tuesdays. Saturdays were the safest day of the week, with the lowest collisions per vehicle. Sundays were second lowest.

Other noteworthy findings from the report include the fact that most collisions — nearly 84% — occurred in clear weather. Some 13% of crashes occurred during rainy weather, but only about 3% happened in snowy weather and 0.1% in foggy conditions.

For fleets in rural areas, it’s important to know that animal strikes continue to rise — up 27% in 2022 as compared with 2019. In fact, hitting an animal accounted for nearly 30% of the collisions in clear weather and over 9% in rainy conditions. In contrast, fixed objects accounted for about 12% of accidents in clear conditions and 16% in rainy conditions.