FUTURE OF FLEET > SAFETY
BEYOND COMPLIANCE: FORGING A PROACTIVE SAFETY CULTURE FOR 2026
Oliver Holt I sales manager, UK and Ireland I Geotab
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s clear the year has been a pivotal moment for fleet safety. For managers and drivers alike, the landscape has been reshaped by mounting regulatory pressure, rising operational costs and an urgent focus on driver welfare. The wave of new rules, from London’s HGV Progressive Safe System, to mandatory enhanced tachographs and stricter HSE guidance, are more than a series of compliance hurdles. They represent a fundamental shift in responsibility, demanding a safety strategy that is proactive, not reactive.
For too long, fleet safety has relied on looking in the rearview mirror, analysing incidents after they occur. This approach is no longer sufficient. The data is stark: a recent Geotab survey revealed that 46% of UK commercial drivers have considered leaving the profession, citing stress and safety concerns. To protect our most valuable asset – our people – we must move beyond simple compliance and foster a supportive, preventative safety culture. The future lies in empowering drivers in real-time, turning every moment behind the wheel into a coaching opportunity.
Technology must evolve from a passive recorder to an active co-pilot. The practical application is two-fold. First, for the driver, the technology acts as a real-time partner. Solutions such as Geotab’s GO Focus Plus AI dashcam use AI to detect specific risky behaviours, such as tailgating or mobile phone use. Instead of that data being used punitively later, the system delivers an immediate, neutral in-cab voice prompt. This empowers the driver to self-correct instantly, turning a potential offence into a micro-learning opportunity. In fact, another Geotab survey revealed that 91% of UK drivers would prefer instant audio coaching to inward-facing video being stored for later review.
Secondly, for the fleet manager, the technology transforms their role from enforcer to coach. The AI-powered video intelligence platform automatically surfaces the most critical patterns and repeat behaviours, eliminating the need to manually search through hours of footage. This allows managers to have targeted, supportive conversations backed by contextual data, focusing on fostering improvement. The holistic approach is proven to build a stronger safety culture, with pilot results showing that this method of instant feedback can slash tailgating by 90% and phone use by 95%.
We see a clear path forward. Looking ahead to 2026, the goal isn’t just to meet new regulations, but to exceed them by building a resilient safety culture from the driver’s seat out. By uniting advanced data analytics with intelligent, real-time support, we can create safer roads, retain our best talent and build stronger, more sustainable operations for the years to come.
“For too long, fleet safety has relied on looking in the rearview mirror, analysing incidents after they occur”
