Distracted driving is not an abstract road-safety issue. It creates immediate human and operational consequences, from injury and vehicle damage to downtime and organisational liability. In the UK alone, distracted driving was associated with more than 2,600 crashes, dozens of fatalities and many injuries in 2022. For drivers operating HGVs weighing 13 tonnes or more, a momentary loss of focus can be especially severe.

This State of Connected Operations report brings the commercial driver perspective into focus. It draws on a survey of 1,550 drivers across seven countries, representing more than 14,700 years of combined driving experience, to reveal what causes distraction, how drivers experience its impact and which interventions they believe can make the greatest difference.

What the research reveals

• 79% had a close call or near-miss because they were distracted within the previous year, while 93% had personally experienced consequences such as vehicle damage, injury, fines or licence suspension.
• Mobile technology is both essential and a source of risk. 74% use phones or other technology for work-related tasks on the road, and 76% report often being distracted by personal mobile devices.
• Drivers want practical operational support. Their leading requests include fewer work-related calls and messages, better in-cab routing and policies that prioritise safety rather than speed.
• Coaching can change behaviour. Among drivers receiving coaching or training, 95% say it has positively affected their driving habits. After viewing their own dash cam footage, 60% changed how they drive.
• Accurate, AI-powered detection with alerts is the technology drivers want most, followed by improved hands-free communication and a dedicated dash cam button to capture incident context.

Download the report to understand distracted driving through the eyes of commercial drivers and use the findings to shape a more effective, driver-first approach to technology, training, communication and policy.