Distracted-driving truck crashes down 32 per cent, but inattention remains the leading human factor in major incidents

Distraction-related major incidents fall sharply

Serious truck crashes involving inattentive or distracted drivers fell 32 per cent in the past 12 months, according to the 2026 National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) Major Incident Investigation Report. The report, released by NTI, states the inattention and distraction incident rate declined from 25.4 incidents per 10,000 heavy vehicles in 2023 to 17.0 in 2025, a 33.1 per cent decrease, while cautioning that 'while the overall rate remains a concern, this downward trend may indicate early signs of progress in addressing this key risk area.' ⁴³

Insurance News, which describes the report as NTI-backed, says the NTARC annual Major Incident Investigation Report is based on NTI's heavy vehicle major losses – claims exceeding $50,000 – and contributions from partners Monash University and the National Road Safety Partnership Program. NTARC is a collaborative partnership now in its third year, drawing on de-identified NTI insurance claims data to identify heavy vehicle safety trends. ²⁴¹

NTI chief executive officer Janelle Greene said the decrease in heavy vehicle incidents involving inattentive or distracted drivers 'provides a positive indication that these efforts are making a difference', crediting work across the industry from driver training and safety education to systemic and behavioural interventions. NTI transport research manager Adam Gibson said the decline in key human factor risks shows the value of continued focus, while it remains critical that interventions continue to target inattention and distraction 'given their continued prevalence and potential for severe consequences.' ⁴³

The wider human-factor picture in 2025

Despite the improvement, inattention and distraction remained the leading human factor, accounting for 13.8 per cent of all major incidents in 2025. Insurance News reports that among human-related causes it has consistently had the highest incident rate, falling 32 per cent last year to 17 incidents per 10,000 heavy vehicles from 25 in 2024. ⁴²

Other human-factor measures improved more dramatically. Fatigue-related incidents fell 56.9 per cent, from 5.8 to 2.5 per 10,000 heavy vehicles, failure-to-give-way incidents fell 60.8 per cent and inappropriate vehicle positioning fell 8.9 per cent. Overall human factor-related incidents declined 17.6 per cent to 67.6 per 10,000 heavy vehicles, down from 69.9 in 2024 according to Insurance News. ⁴²

The trend was not uniform across all causes. Insurance News reports that incidents linked to inappropriate speed increased 28.9 per cent and crashes involving inadequate following distance rose 11.7 per cent, meaning targeted hazard management programs and safety initiatives will remain a focus for the centre. ²

Claim patterns and where distraction crashes happen

Major loss claims exceeding $50,000 fell 22.3 per cent in 2025, according to the report. Insurance News notes the transport underwriter recorded 1374 claims, with almost half falling in the $50,000 to $100,000 range and the smallest share exceeding $1 million, where the highest-cost incidents were largely due to natural peril events causing multi-vehicle damage or infrastructure damage from crashes or vehicle fires. Natural peril incidents more than doubled in 2025. ⁴²

Geographic and vehicle-type patterns stand out in the data. Nearly two-thirds (63.5 per cent) of inattention and distraction crashes involved a single vehicle. Articulated combinations recorded the highest rate at 24.2 incidents per 10,000 vehicles, with crashes most common in outer regional areas and major cities, which the report links to long-haul exposure and, in cities, possibly to environmental distractions, the high density of vulnerable road users and frequent stopping. ⁴³

The report also found inattention and distraction crashes were slightly under-represented in major cities (36.8 per cent of such crashes against a 40 per cent overall share) and slightly over-represented in inner regional areas at 27.3 per cent, according to NTI's media release. Paint & Panel adds that distraction-related crashes were slightly over-represented in inner regional locations compared with their overall share of serious incidents. ⁴¹

Road-death data points the other way

Insurance Business Australia highlights a tension between the claims-based findings and government statistics. Federal figures show 213 road deaths involving heavy vehicles in the 12 months to June, 4.9 per cent higher than the previous year, with deaths involving articulated trucks up 16.0 per cent to 116 while those involving heavy rigid trucks fell 17.7 per cent to 79. The publication notes the two datasets measure different things: insured major incidents versus all road deaths. ³

Insurance Business also reports a regulatory development alongside the findings. The amended Heavy Vehicle National Law, in force since 1 August, introduces a new 'unfit to drive' duty under which, according to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, drivers must not drive if unfit for any reason, including physical or mental illness, injury, drugs, alcohol or fatigue. It applies to heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes, and chain-of-responsibility parties must ensure their business practices do not cause or encourage a driver to operate while unfit. The amended law applies in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, but not Western Australia or the Northern Territory, Insurance Business reports. ³

Industry response, renewal context and fleet survey

Australian Trucking Association chief executive officer Mathew Munro said the report, which breaks data down by state and territory, was essential for 'driving change', adding that 'developing a strong safety culture right across the industry is critical, and the findings show the importance of continuing the work already being led by industry and government, from tailored education and awareness campaigns to policy and technology innovations.' NTARC researchers walked through the findings in an online webinar aimed primarily at insurance brokers. ³⁴

Insurance Business adds a broker-renewal angle: NTI products are accessed through a broker, and last month the insurer urged operators to check that declared values reflect current freight costs ahead of summer, Insurance Business reported separately. ³

Broader survey data aligns with the report's focus. A 2026 Geotab Connected Fleets in Australia survey of 517 fleet managers, executives and mobility professionals found driver fatigue and safety ranked as the leading day-to-day challenge, ahead of customer expectations and fuel costs, and that more than half of Australian fleets have adopted in-cab video technology, per a published analysis of the survey. ⁵