Distracted driving is increasingly threatening the profitability of commercial auto insurance, according to new research from SambaSafety, a provider of driver risk management solutions. The 2026 Telematics Report, based on responses from 740 fleet, broker, and insurance professionals and an analysis of 500 million miles of driving data, found that 84% of insurers and brokers now consider distracted driving a major threat to commercial auto profitability—up nearly 10 percentage points in just one year. This sharp rise signals a growing awareness that distraction behind the wheel not only endangers public safety but also drives up costs when crashes occur.
The report highlights that safety risks vary widely by industry, and a one-size-fits-all approach to driver safety may be ineffective. For example, severe speeding rates differed by more than fivefold across industries analyzed. Transportation fleets recorded 48 severe speeding events per 100,000 miles, compared with 254 among construction fleets. Such disparities underscore the need for tailored safety programs that address the specific risks each group of drivers faces.
Telematics technology is already widely adopted, with 90% of fleet respondents using it to identify unsafe driving patterns and inform training. However, more than half of fleets (53%) say interpreting and acting on telematics data is a leading challenge. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a tool to help make sense of this data deluge. Sixty percent of fleets and 94% of insurers report using AI in some form, including analyzing driver risk data and reviewing footage that once required manual processing.
A notable disconnect between brokers and fleets could hinder progress: while 52% of brokers cite fleet distrust as a barrier to data sharing, only 5% of fleets agree. This 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, moving from mere data collection to actionable insights that support safer decisions on the road. For businesses operating commercial fleets, the implications are significant: adopting telematics and AI can help reduce crashes, lower insurance costs, and improve overall safety. Insurers and brokers, meanwhile, can use these tools to better assess risk and price policies accordingly. As distracted driving remains a persistent threat, leveraging technology to identify and mitigate risky behaviors will be crucial for protecting both lives and profits.
The full 2026 Telematics Report is available from SambaSafety, providing detailed insights for industry stakeholders. As the commercial auto landscape evolves, the ability to turn data into meaningful action will likely determine which organizations thrive in an era of heightened safety scrutiny.
