Commercial fleets are seeing higher collision rates but fewer severe incidents, according to Lytx’s newly released 2025 Road Safety Report. Based on over 300 billion miles of driving data across 90+ countries, the annual report highlights the top roadway risks, behavior patterns and key takeaways for fleet operators as they navigate growing complexity on the roads.
Collision Rates Up, Severity Down
While industry-wide collisions per vehicle rose 24% from late 2023 through 2024, Lytx data shows a drop in severe incidents among clients using its video and coaching tools:
- Level 1 (most severe) collisions fell 6%.
- Level 2 collisions dropped 59%.
- Overall risky behaviors declined 4% among Lytx-equipped drivers.
Near Misses and Aggressive Driving Still a Concern
Near collisions were up 52% year-over-year, highlighting tighter traffic conditions and more congestion. Speeding (+9%) and distracted driving behaviors like eating (+7%) also increased. On the positive side, seat belt use improved by 13% and handheld device use dropped 9%.
Following Distance and Weather Risks
Following too closely remains the top risky behavior. Notably, driving less than one second behind another vehicle rose 19% year-over-year. Weather also played a major role in collisions:
- Driving too fast for conditions made Level 1 crashes 4x more likely.
- Fog was the most dangerous weather condition.
- Winter driving carried double the collision risk compared to other seasons.
States, Cities and Times with the Highest Risk
California, Texas and New York ranked as the top three riskiest states to drive in 2024. Among U.S. cities, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas/Fort Worth saw the most driving risk.
- Tuesdays were the most dangerous driving days; Sundays were the safest.
- Risk peaked between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., especially around 2 p.m.
- New Year’s Eve was the riskiest holiday to drive in 2024, with collisions 12% higher than average.
Safety and Sustainability Benefits
Despite rising collision counts, fleets using Lytx technology saw meaningful improvements:
- 8.7% reduction in speeding helped cut fuel usage.
- Estimated $22 million saved in fuel costs and 110 million pounds of CO₂ prevented.
- Estimated $1.8 billion saved on claims and $521 million on maintenance.
Takeaway for Fleets
As risk patterns shift, fleet managers are urged to rely on real-time data insights and consistent driver coaching to maintain safety. “Today’s fleets face rapidly changing risk environments,” said Rajesh Rudraradhya, Lytx CTO. “Data is the key to anticipating and managing those risks before they become collisions.”
The full report is based on Lytx’s global database, encompassing more than 5.5 million drivers and 209 million driving events captured in 2024 alone.
