Lytx warns quiet 2026 hurricane outlook masks rising road risk for fleets
Lytx’s 2026 Road Safety Report, based on over 341 billion miles driven by 6.3 million commercial drivers, says a below-normal Atlantic hurricane forecast does not mean fewer road dangers. Collisions in construction jumped 28% in 2025, the largest increase among all sectors Lytx monitors.
Inattentiveness rose 168% as a factor in crashes and near‑misses year over year, driven by phone use and eyes off the road. Device‑use coaching sessions grew 40% in 2025, while following‑distance training remained the most‑coached behavior industrywide. Lytx notes fog makes a severe crash nearly three times more likely than normal conditions and that 23% of large‑truck crashes stem from driving too fast for conditions, not just speeding. Near‑collisions fell 23% across every sector even as overall collisions ticked up, suggesting drivers are avoiding close calls but still hitting objects. The shortage of nearly 440,000 construction workers, partly due to data‑center projects paying 30% above average wages, is straining crews left on job sites.
“A mild hurricane forecast is genuinely good news, but it’s the kind of headline that can create a false sense of security,” Brendon Hill, Senior Vice President of Product, Lytx said.
“Risk is always evolving. If it’s not weather, it’s distracted behavior, or a work zone that changes block by block. You need tools that adapt to the situation, not a rulebook that stays fixed no matter what’s happening on the road,” Brendon Hill, Senior Vice President of Product, Lytx said.
The report also notes that near‑collisions dropped 23% across all sectors Lytx tracks, even as overall collisions rose.
What we know
NOAA's latest Atlantic hurricane outlook is calling for a below-normal 2026 season.
Lytx’s 2026 Road Safety Report draws on more than 341 billion miles of driving data from 6.3 million commercial drivers.
Collisions in the construction industry rose 28% in 2025, the steepest increase of any sector Lytx tracks.
Inattentiveness climbed 168% as a contributing factor in collisions and near‑misses year over year.
Device‑use coaching sessions increased 40% in 2025.