5-Year Analysis: Accident Management Trends
How have accident management statistics changed over the past five years? With increased attention on driver education and distracted driving, you may be surprised by what you see.
Accidents impact not only a company's bottom line, but the safety of fleet's greatest resource: its drivers and the vehicles they operate. The past five years have seen an increased focus on driver safety, accident management, and minimizing distracted driving.
Automotive Fleet has been analyzing fleet accident management trends for several years. The following pages review the past five years and are chock full of important trends and data.
Interesting trends that emerged include the age range of drivers involved in accidents and driver tenure, which continue to illustrate just how important continued driver education and training can be.
Between 2006 and 2010, drivers with less than one-year tenure in both the sales and service segments experienced the lowest percentage of accidents - with the exception of 2007 for sales drivers. These statistics help show the necessity of continued driver education, beyond initial training.
Over the past five years, the lowest percentage of accidents occurred on Sunday and Monday, with Friday and Saturday typically showing the highest percentage of accidents. The overall percentage of accidents by day of week has remained constant since 2006, with accidents on Sunday showing the highest percentage decrease.
Seatbelts save lives - and drivers are catching on. Seatbelt use has steadily increased over the past five years from a low of 95.24 percent utilizing a seatbelt during an accident in 2006 to a high of 97.38 percent in 2010.
Overall, the percentage of accidents in which a cell phone was in use has stayed steady over the past five years, dropping 0.02 percentage points, hitting a low point of less than 1 percent in 2009.
Overall, the percentage of drivers in accidents by age group has declined over the past five years, with drivers between 46 and 54 years old and those over the age of 55 experiencing the highest percentage of accidents. Accidents by drivers aged 18-25 have been decreasing year-over-year, while accidents by drivers aged 26-35 and 36-45 have been increasing.
More Operations
Fleet Managers Think They Understand Their Costs. The Data Says Otherwise.
Most fleet managers say they have a strong handle on their costs, but new research from Bobit Business Media tells a different story. A 2026 survey of 190 fleet professionals reveals a widespread "confidence gap" where fragmented systems, disconnected data, and delayed reporting are leaving major blind spots hidden beneath the surface. Find out what the data actually shows.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)
Part Two: Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Continue learning more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab
Read More →
New Trucks, AI & Summer Downtime | AF News Recap
From new truck updates to AI-powered driver coaching and summer maintenance tips, this week's fleet headlines are all about keeping things moving.
Read More →
Beyond Utilization Rates: Smarter Fleet Replacement Decisions
Vehicle replacement decisions affect every aspect of fleet performance, from operating costs to asset availability. This guide explores how fleet leaders use integrated data, benchmarking, and lifecycle analytics to determine the right fleet size and optimize replacement timing with greater confidence.
Read More →
Slate Debuts Colorful, Unique EV Models
A recent media and client event, studded with electric vehicles dressed up on platforms, planted a new position for the manufacturer in the wider EV market. Fleets will find cost-saving advantages.
Read More →
Element, Waymo Partner on Autonomous Fleet Operations
The multi-year agreement will support fleet management services for Waymo's autonomous ride-hailing operations, beginning in San Diego.
Read More →
Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Switchable Model Aims For Light-Duty Fleets
Everything about this EV is counterintuitive and understated, making it stand out from the crowd.
Read More →
How to Manage Conflict for Your Fleet Operations
Conflict management is becoming a core leadership skill. Here are five strategies fleet leaders should know.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention
Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.
Read More →