Fleet operators across Latin America are facing a complex safety challenge: drivers are under pressure to deliver productivity, often at the expense of safe driving behaviours.
At a recent regional session at Geotab Connect 2026, results from a survey of approximately 500 drivers across Mexico, Central America and South America were shared, providing a clear snapshot of how drivers perceive safety, technology and workplace stress in their day-to-day operations.
The findings highlight why Fleet Managers are increasingly investing in real-time monitoring, driver support systems and control room environments to protect both drivers and assets.
42% Admit Choosing Productivity Over Safety
One of the most striking results from the survey was that 42 per cent of drivers admitted they had consciously prioritised productivity over safety due to work pressure.
This includes behaviours such as:
- Speeding to meet delivery targets
- Running red lights
- Extending driving hours beyond safe limits
For Fleet Managers, this statistic reinforces the importance of aligning KPIs so that delivery performance does not unintentionally reward risky driving.
Stress Is Affecting Daily Driving Behaviour
The survey revealed that more than 83 per cent of respondents said work-related stress affects their daily driving habits.
Drivers reported long hours in traffic, high customer expectations, tight delivery windows and route pressure as contributing factors. When combined with fatigue, congestion and distractions, the risk of incidents increases significantly.
This underscores a critical message: driver safety programs must consider mental workload, not just vehicle metrics.
Mobile Phone Distraction Remains Widespread
Another concerning insight was that over 60 per cent of drivers acknowledged that either they or other drivers were using mobile phones while driving.
Even when drivers personally avoid distraction, awareness that surrounding traffic may be distracted creates additional stress and forces them into a more defensive driving posture.
For fleet operators, this finding reinforces the value of:
- Driver coaching
- In-cab alerts
- Behaviour monitoring
- Preventative safety technology
Safety Must Be 360 Degrees
The survey results were presented within the context of a broader “360-degree safety” approach now being adopted by major Latin American fleets.
Rather than focusing only on accident response, fleet leaders are increasingly integrating:
- Driver behaviour monitoring
- Real-time event alerts
- Asset security
- Route productivity analysis
- Control room oversight
The goal is not simply to detect unsafe behaviour, but to intervene early and reduce the pressures that lead to it.
From Data to Action
The survey findings highlight a fundamental challenge for Fleet Managers that drivers often feel tension between meeting operational targets and maintaining safe driving standards.
This means safety strategies must:
- Align performance metrics with safe behaviour
- Provide real-time feedback and support
- Reduce operational stress through better route planning
- Use data proactively rather than reactively
As the region’s fleets continue to adopt telematics, video monitoring and AI-powered analytics, the focus is shifting from enforcement to prevention.
A Clear Message for Fleet Leaders
The Latin American survey results send a clear signal:
- Safety cannot rely on policy alone.
- Productivity targets must be designed responsibly.
- Driver wellbeing directly impacts risk exposure.
With nearly half of drivers acknowledging they have compromised safety under pressure, fleet operators have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to redesign systems that protect both performance and people.
For organisations managing transport fleets in complex urban and regional environments, these insights provide a valuable benchmark for evaluating current safety programs and identifying areas for improvement.
- From Mine Sites to Motorsport: Komatsu Expands F1 Partnership
Komatsu has extended its global partnership with Atlassian Williams F1 Team beyond 2026, expanding technical collaboration that will see its engineers help develop components for future Formula 1 cars. The renewed agreement makes Komatsu Williams’ Official Hydraulic Innovation Partner, drawing on the manufacturer’s experience developing hydraulic systems for construction, mining and forestry equipment. For heavy - HERE Connects the Missing Routes for Fire CrewsHERE Technologies and the NSW Rural Fire Service have integrated more than 60,000km of fire trails into an emergency response routing network, helping crews navigate beyond public roads to reach incidents in remote locations. The initiative combines HERE’s road network data with NSW RFS operational mapping to create a unified, routable network incorporating fire trails,
- More Bays, Less Downtime: TRUCK TECH Expands in VictoriaTRUCK TECH has opened a new heavy vehicle workshop in Sunshine West, expanding maintenance capacity for fleets operating across Melbourne’s western freight corridor. The 5,000 sqm facility targets fleets with 50 or more assets and includes 14 service bays, a 10-tonne crane, a wash bay, and diagnostic and brake-testing technology. It also provides A-double access
- Hybrid Coach Earns Scania a Global AwardThe Scania Irizar i6S Efficient PHEV has won the Coach category in the Sustainable Bus Award 2027, highlighting the potential for plug-in hybrid technology to reduce emissions from long-distance passenger transport. The coach combines a 338kW Scania Super 13-litre engine with two 145kW electric machines and an 89kWh lithium-ion battery. Scania says the three-axle model
- Volvo’s Gas-Powered FH Aero Gains MomentumVolvo Trucks has secured an order for 500 FH Aero gas-powered trucks from German transport company Reinert Logistics, highlighting growing European demand for renewable fuels in heavy-duty transport. The agreement was signed at the IAA Transportation exhibition in Hanover, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027. It follows Reinert Logistics’ experience operating an initial fleet
