Cover image for the 2026 Road Safety Report

Road Traffic Workplace

Road Traffic: A Dangerous Workplace

Millions of people head out on the roads for their work every day, including truck drivers, express courier delivery services, professional tradespeople, field sales reps, and emergency personnel. Many of them also work directly on or beside the road itself, often only a few feet away from the flow of traffic or with only thin barriers to protect them. All these groups face high risks due to the fact that the road is their workplace. Although we have made long-term progress in improving road safety, the measures taken to date have not been enough to bring about a continuing reduction in the accident figures in the context of “Vision Zero.”

In recent decades, the importance of our roads as workplaces has increased dramatically in our society. This is particularly evident when looking at how many different groups of people this concerns. In addition to the group you might expect here – professional drivers – this also includes road users whose primary job is not driving per se but who nevertheless have to travel regularly for work, such as field sales reps or maintenance personnel. Similarly, it includes people who work directly on or beside the road, such as road construction workers, garbage collectors, winter road maintenance workers, or those responsible for temporary traffic safety measures. However, it also includes other road users who get involved in work-related crashes.

When our roads are workplaces, a key factor is how “open” they are. Whereas traditional workplaces in factories, offices, and workshops have fixed structures, defined responsibilities, and in most cases clear safety measures, road traffic is shaped by many different factors that are difficult to calculate.

Adverse weather conditions, high volumes of traffic, technical faults, and the behavior of other road users can all lead to unpredictable and critical situations at any given moment. This is compounded by the fact that time pressure, irregular working hours, monotonous driving situations, a lack of breaks, and high demands on driver performance can cause stress and fatigue.

Tiredness is one of the key risk factors in road traffic as it significantly compromises the driver’s ability to react and pay attention. Night shifts and long assignments that disrupt a natural sleep–wake rhythm are particularly critical. These types of situations adversely affect the driver’s ability to concentrate, but the high demands placed on them in terms of driving the vehicle remain unchanged. This combination significantly increases the likelihood of them reacting in the wrong way and being involved in an accident.

The type of traffic environment varies greatly

It is not just human factors that play a role; technical aspects and the infrastructure also influence safety at work on the road. The condition of vehicles, the quality of the road surface, and the design of traffic routing systems are directly linked to the risk of accidents. Although modern vehicles come with numerous assistance systems that can make driving safer, they must be used correctly and work reliably in order to be effective.

International comparisons also illustrate the significant role played by our roads as workplaces. In many countries, traffic accidents are among the most common causes of fatal workplace accidents. “Work zones” – locations where construction or maintenance work is performed on or beside the road while the flow of traffic continues – pose a particular danger. These areas are characterized by changed traffic routing systems, restricted lines of sight, and very dynamic driving situations. Even minor mistakes by other road users can have severe consequences.

Another relevant aspect of the roads as a workplace is that the type of traffic environment varies greatly. Different types of road pose different potential hazards. Roads in non-built-up areas are often characterized by high speeds, meaning accidents can be particularly severe. In contrast, built-up areas feature dense traffic, and drivers frequently encounter pedestrians and cyclists. Freeways pose other risks, such as when traffic jams form or when drivers encounter road work. These differences show that any necessary safety measures cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution, and instead always need to be tailored to the respective situation.

Interplay between infrastructure, technology, organizational measures, and personal conduct when out on the road

When considering our roads as workplaces, a fundamental problem is the fact that the actual risks involved are not always visible. This is because many statistical systems do not adequately register whether a journey was private or work-related. As a result, a proportion of the accident statistics remains inadequately documented, which makes it much more difficult to devise targeted prevention measures. It is only when the actual extent of the risks becomes visible that we can develop effective measures for the long term. In this context, a particular problem is also the fact that different data sources are not linked with one another. Information from police accident statistics, company reports, and occupational health examinations is often recorded separately, despite the fact that it could paint a more comprehensive picture if combined.

Another aspect to consider is the fact that modern traffic systems are very complex. Digitalization and connected/networked systems are fundamentally changing our workflows in road traffic. Although sat-nav systems, digital job management systems, and automated driving functions make many tasks easier, they also place new demands on drivers. Employees must process multiple sources of information at the same time and take decisions, all while paying attention to what is happening on the road. For this reason, driver distraction caused by technical devices is one of the biggest challenges to overcome to ensure road safety in the modern world.

Considering all the above, it is clear that the role played by our roads as workplaces cannot be considered in isolation. Rather, it is a question of the interplay between infrastructure, technology, organizational measures, and personal conduct when out on the road. Simply focusing on technical solutions will not be enough if the general conditions or human factors continue to be ignored.

Given our increasing travel patterns, it is likely that more and more people will head out on our roads in the coming years. At the same time, the need to keep everyone safe in this working environment will remain an ongoing challenge; one that will require us to make constant adjustments and develop new strategies. As a result, comprehensively analyzing the role played by our roads as workplaces is not only crucial to ensure safety at work, it is also required for the sustainable development of our economy, infrastructure, and society as a whole. This report sets out in detail where we need to direct our efforts and what improvements can be made to increase road safety.

Read the complete Road Safety Report 2026 now!

Accident statistics, the human factor, technology and infrastructure – combined with numerous drive and crash tests, compelling examples of accidents, and statements from international experts: The DEKRA Road Safety Report 2026 looks at “Working in Road Traffic” from a variety of perspectives.