PestSure Highlights Top Auto Crash Causes in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

DALLAS – April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the risks of unsafe driving behaviors. For pest control service professionals who spend countless hours on the road, staying focused behind the wheel is critical. Recent data from PestSure highlights the top causes of auto crashes in the industry, reinforcing the need for fleet safety policies and driver awareness training.

According to PestSure’s latest analysis, the most frequent type of accident occurs when a driver rear-ends another vehicle, accounting for 38 percent of reported incidents.

Other common causes include:
Failure to Yield - 18 percent
Backing into another vehicle – 14 percent
Lane changes – 4 percent
Ran a stop sign or signal – 3 percent

“These statistics highlight a clear need for continued driver education and proactive safety measures,” said Linda Midyett,  vice president/loss control director at PestSure. “Rear-end collisions, which account for over a third of industry accidents, are largely preventable. By eliminating distractions and maintaining proper following distances, service professionals can significantly reduce their risk on the road.”

Distracted driving significantly increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions because it reduces a driver's situational awareness, reaction time, and ability to maintain safe following distances.

Cognitive Distraction – Even hands-free phone conversations can cause mental distraction, making drivers slower to recognize hazards and fail to react appropriately.

Delayed Reaction Time – When drivers take their eyes off the road (even for a few seconds), they may not notice that traffic ahead has slowed or stopped. By the time they react, it’s often too late to avoid a crash.

Eyes Off the Road – Looking at a phone, GPS, or even adjusting the radio means drivers aren’t fully aware of their surroundings. This makes it easier to miss brake lights, sudden stops, or changing traffic conditions

Following Too Closely – Distracted drivers often fail to maintain a safe following distance, leaving them with less time and space to stop if the vehicle in front suddenly slows down.

Inconsistent Speed Control – A distracted driver may unintentionally speed up or fail to slow down when necessary, increasing the risk of crashing into the vehicle ahead.

Since rear-end collisions are largely preventable with better attention and proper following distances, eliminating distractions is one of the most effective ways to reduce these crashes.

PestSure encourages pest management professionals to:

- Implement and enforce policies to reduce distracted driving
- Provide regular driver safety training
- Leverage vehicle telematics to monitor driving behavior