Over 90% of road crashes are caused by human behaviour rather than road or vehicle conditions.

This blog explains the key human factors in road safety, common unsafe driving behaviours, and why traditional training alone is not enough. It also highlights how behaviour-based safety programs, defensive driving training, and technology-driven solutions – like those offered by CORE-EHS – can help organisations reduce accidents, improve driver behaviour, and build a strong road safety culture.

Human Factors in Road Safety: Understanding the Behavioural Causes Behind Most Accidents

Every year, millions of road accidents occur across the world. While poor roads, vehicle failure, and weather conditions are often blamed, research shows a different truth. Human factors in road safety – such as driver behaviour, judgement, fatigue, and decision-making – are responsible for approximately 90% of road crashes. Speeding, distracted driving, overconfidence, and unsafe habits turn routine journeys into life-threatening events. For organisations managing fleets, daily commuting, or transport operations, understanding and controlling human behaviour on the road is no longer optional – it is a critical safety responsibility. This blog explores how human factors cause most road accidents and how behaviour-focused safety interventions can significantly reduce crashes.

What Are Human Factors in Road Safety?

Human factors in road safety refer to how drivers think, behave, react, and make decisions while operating a vehicle. These factors directly influence driving performance and play a major role in most road accidents.

Human factors include both physical and psychological elements, such as:

• Attention and focus – staying alert to traffic, signals, and hazards
• Fatigue and alertness – tired drivers have slower reaction times and poor judgement
• Emotional state – stress, anger, frustration, or overconfidence can trigger risky driving behaviour
• Risk perception and judgement – how drivers assess danger and make split-second decisions
• Driving habits and attitude – learned behaviours, shortcuts, and rule-breaking tendencies

Even with well-maintained roads, advanced vehicles, and safety systems, unsafe human behaviour can still lead to serious accidents. This is why human factors remain the single biggest risk element in road safety, especially for organisations managing drivers, fleets, and daily transportation activities.

Why Driver Behaviour Causes Over 90% of Road Crashes

Global road safety research shows a clear pattern: most road crashes are not random accidents. They are predictable and preventable events caused by unsafe human behaviour. According to studies by organisations such as the World Health Organization, human error is the dominant factor behind the majority of road traffic accidents worldwide. This means improving roads and vehicles alone is not enough – driver behaviour must be addressed.

The most common behaviour-related causes of road crashes include:

1. Speeding

Drivers often underestimate the danger of speed. Higher speed reduces reaction time and increases stopping distance, making crashes more severe and often fatal.

2. Distracted Driving

Using mobile phones, eating, adjusting GPS systems, or talking while driving diverts attention for critical seconds. Even a brief distraction can result in a serious accident.

3. Fatigue and Drowsy Driving

Long working hours, night driving, and insufficient rest significantly affect alertness and decision-making. This is especially common in logistics, transport, and fleet operations.

4. Alcohol and Substance Use

Even small amounts of alcohol or substance use impair judgement, coordination, and reaction time, increasing the likelihood of loss of control and collisions.

5. Overconfidence and Risk-Taking

Experienced drivers may develop a false sense of confidence. This often leads to unsafe shortcuts, rule violations, and ignoring basic safety practices.

Common Unsafe Driving Behaviours Seen in Organisations

Across industries, the same unsafe driving behaviours are repeatedly observed among employees, contract drivers, and fleet operators. These behaviours significantly increase the risk of road accidents and near-misses.

Common unsafe driving behaviours include:

• Not wearing seatbelts or helmets, especially during short or routine trips
• Using mobile phones while driving, including calls, messages, or navigation checks
• Ignoring traffic rules on familiar routes, assuming “nothing will happen”
• Aggressive driving under work pressure, deadlines, or performance targets
• Skipping rest breaks, leading to fatigue and reduced alertness
• Poor vehicle inspection habits, such as ignoring tyre condition, brakes, or lights

These unsafe practices clearly highlight a critical gap in road safety management: Drivers often have the knowledge, but safe behaviour does not consistently follow. This gap cannot be closed through awareness alone. It requires behaviour-focused interventions, continuous monitoring, and strong safety culture reinforcement within organisations.

Why Training Alone Is Not Enough

Most drivers already know traffic rules and basic road safety principles. However, knowledge alone does not always translate into safe driving behaviour. The real challenge lies in driver attitude, habits, and workplace safety culture. Over time, routine driving, work pressure, and overconfidence cause drivers to ignore what they already know. Traditional classroom-based training often:

• Improves awareness of road safety rules
• But fails to change day-to-day driving behaviour on the road

This is because unsafe driving is usually habit-driven, not knowledge-driven. To reduce road accidents effectively, organisations must go beyond awareness and focus on how drivers actually behave in real driving conditions. This is where Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) becomes essential. BBS helps identify unsafe driving behaviours, correct them through observation and feedback, and reinforce safe habits over time – leading to lasting behaviour change and fewer road incidents.

Role of Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) in Road Safety

Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) plays a critical role in improving road safety by focusing on behaviour rather than blame. Instead of reacting after an accident occurs, BBS works proactively by identifying and correcting unsafe driving behaviours before they lead to incidents. BBS is based on a simple principle: Unsafe behaviour causes accidents, and behaviour can be changed.

Key elements of Behaviour-Based Safety in road safety include:

• Behaviour observation during real driving conditions, not just classroom assessments
• Positive reinforcement for safe driving behaviour, encouraging repetition of good practices
• Corrective feedback for unsafe acts, given in a non-punitive and constructive manner
• Continuous monitoring and improvement, using data and observations to track behaviour trends

By consistently observing and correcting behaviour, BBS helps drivers develop safe driving habits that last over time.

Watch: Basic Do’s & Don’ts of Safe Driving

Understanding the causes of road crashes is only the first step. The following video highlights essential do’s and don’ts of driving safety that every driver should follow to reduce risks and prevent accidents on the road.  At CORE-EHS, Behaviour-Based Safety principles are embedded into multiple road safety solutions, including:

• Defensive driving training programs
• Road safety awareness and behaviour change campaigns
• Corporate and fleet safety initiatives for high-risk operations

These programs help organisations move from rule-based compliance to behaviour-led safety culture, significantly reducing road accidents caused by human factors.

How CORE-EHS Helps Reduce Behaviour-Driven Road Crashes

Human behaviour is at the core of most road accidents. To address this risk effectively, organisations need more than isolated training sessions – they need integrated road safety solutions that influence behaviour, reinforce accountability, and build a strong safety culture. CORE-EHS offers end-to-end road safety solutions designed to address human factors and unsafe driving behaviour at every level of an organisation.

1. Defensive Driving & Road Safety Training

CORE-EHS delivers practical, behaviour-focused driving safety training that goes beyond theory. Key focus areas include:

• Real-life driving behaviour, based on actual risk scenarios
• Fatigue management and hazard perception, especially for long-haul and shift drivers
• Attitude and decision-making improvement, reducing risky and impulsive actions

2. Corporate & Fleet Safety Programs

For organisations managing fleets or employee transportation, CORE-EHS provides structured safety programs that address systemic behavioural risks. These programs include:

• Driver risk profiling to identify high-risk behaviours
• Behavioural audits and on-road observations
• Safety leadership involvement, ensuring accountability from the top

3. Digital & Technology-Driven Safety Solutions

To strengthen behaviour monitoring and incident prevention, CORE-EHS integrates technology with safety programs. Digital safety solutions include:

• AI-based driver monitoring systems
• IoT-enabled fleet and vehicle safety solutions
• Incident and behaviour data analytics for continuous improvement

Why Organisations Must Act Now

Road accidents have consequences far beyond vehicle damage. For organisations, unsafe driving behaviour directly impacts people, operations, and business continuity.

Road accidents can lead to:

• Loss of life and serious injuries to employees and the public
• Legal liabilities and compliance failures, including regulatory penalties
• Vehicle damage, downtime, and increased operational costs
• Reputation damage and productivity loss, affecting long-term business performance

By proactively addressing human factors in road safety, organisations can:

• Reduce road crashes, near-misses, and repeat incidents
• Improve driver accountability and responsible behaviour
• Strengthen overall safety culture across operations
• Support ESG goals, statutory compliance, and corporate responsibility commitments

Acting early on behaviour-related risks is no longer optional – it is a critical organisational responsibility.

Conclusion: Road Safety Is a Human Responsibility

Road safety is not just about better roads or safer vehicles. It is about people, behaviour, and the choices made every day behind the wheel. When organisations focus on human factors, behaviour correction, and a strong safety culture, road accidents stop being seen as “unavoidable” and become predictable and preventable events. Changing behaviour saves lives. Looking to reduce road accidents caused by unsafe driving behaviour? CORE-EHS helps organisations build safer drivers and safer roads through:

• Defensive driving and road safety training
• Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) programs
• Corporate fleet safety and IoT-enabled safety solutions

Contact CORE-EHS today to reduce behaviour-driven road crashes and create a sustainable road safety culture.