Driver fatigue may be linked to one in five crashes, fleets warned

June 4, 2026

Driver fatigue could be playing a role in up to one in five road collisions and around a quarter of fatal and serious crashes, according to road safety charity GEM Motoring Assist.

While Department for Transport figures record fatigue as a contributory factor in around 4% of reported collisions, GEM believes the true figure is significantly higher due to the difficulty of identifying tiredness after a crash.

The warning comes as Government data shows the number of people killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads rose by 4% year-on-year in 2025 to 29,911.

GEM says fatigue-related incidents are among the most dangerous because drivers often have little or no opportunity to react. Common warning signs include frequent yawning, difficulty concentrating, drifting within a lane and missing road signs, while microsleeps can leave a vehicle travelling more than 100 metres unattended at motorway speeds.

For fleets, the issue extends beyond road safety. Fatigue-related incidents can increase repair bills, vehicle downtime, insurance costs and lost productivity.

Many operators are now using telematics and driver risk management tools to identify potential issues before they lead to collisions. Solutions from providers such as Lightfoot and Motrak can help fleets monitor driving patterns and journey lengths, while organisations including IAM RoadSmart offer driver training and coaching programmes designed to improve road safety awareness.

Fleet management platforms such as FleetCheck can also support wider duty-of-care and compliance processes.