More than eight in 10 fleets (84%) cite driver exoneration as a leading reason for deploying telematics technology, new research from Teletrac Navman reveals.

The Mobilizing the Future of Fleets: 2026 Risk and Exoneration Edition also reveals that over half (53%) fleets that suffered accidents in the past 12 months were successfully able to exonerate a driver due to such technology.

Meanwhile, a third (34%) of fleets reported being impacted by fraudulent motor claims. Almost eight in 10 (77%) of respondents also agreed that increasing litigation and legal costs are now a global concern, made evident by the rise of fleet insurance premiums, with umbrella liability coverage increasing from 10% to 30%, and auto liability from 10% to 20%.

Alain Samaha, chief executive officer at Teletrac Navman, said telematics has evolved from a tool used for cost control and improvements, to an extremely powerful, proactive risk prevention and management solution.

“A high percentage of fleet safety incidents are caused by third parties and other external factors, and video telematics is now the most powerful tool to provide irrefutable, contextual evidence that protects people, preserves reputations and stabilises margins.”

Teletrac Navman’s research found that modern fleets are also taking a considered and layered approach to risk management, with 56% utilising five or more technologies and 74% partnering telematics with dashcams. The latter combination provides fleets with the full context around driving events, combining performance metrics, video evidence and location data to create a complete, defensible picture when incidents occur, and for meaningful, proactive driver training.

Accordingly, since implementing safety technology, 85% of fleets have reported being able to counter the general rise in insurance premiums, with 65% recording premium decreases. Nearly three-quarters (70%) of respondents reported that combining cameras with telematics data drastically reduced the time needed to process accident claims, indicating that integrated evidence is transforming disputes into clear outcomes.

“This is a moment for fleet leaders to make a positive, strategic shift,” added Samaha. “Treat safety tech as a long‑term asset: invest in platforms that scale, embed evidence into everyday workflows and fraud protection, and use outcomes to renegotiate insurance and drive operational change. Do this, and safety becomes a competitive differentiator – not just a line on a budget, but a foundation for resilience and growth.”