During the recent large-scale power outage that disrupted parts of Spain, Portugal, and the south of France, commercial vehicle drivers adapted quickly, showing noticeably safer driving habits despite the absence of traffic signals and road management systems.
An analysis of telematics data captured during the blackout showed significant reductions in high-risk driving behaviours. Harsh acceleration dropped by 19%, while instances of harsh braking were down 13%, and sharp cornering decreased by 9% compared to the previous week. These figures point to a clear shift in driver behaviour during the period when normal traffic infrastructure was out of action.
Remarkably, these improvements in road safety came even as traffic control systems like traffic lights were non-operational across the affected regions. Commercial drivers responded with increased caution and control, helping to maintain road safety in an unpredictable and potentially hazardous situation.
The data was gathered using telematics devices capable of storing vehicle activity even when mobile signals are unavailable. These devices continue logging events such as braking, acceleration, and cornering during offline periods, with the data later uploaded once connectivity returns. This feature allowed analysts to gain a clear picture of how driving patterns changed throughout the blackout, without interruption in the data flow.
Iván Lequerica, Vice President of EMEA at Geotab, commented on the findings: “The data collected by our technology clearly shows how, even in a context as critical as a national blackout, driving behaviour can adapt positively. The significant reduction in risky manoeuvres – such as acceleration, braking and sharp turns – is evidence of a responsible response by drivers, who prioritised safety.
This type of analysis demonstrates the value of real-time and offline data to understand and improve road safety, even under extreme conditions.”
In addition to safer manoeuvring, the blackout also led to a noticeable change in overall traffic patterns. From around 12:30pm onwards, the time when the outage took full effect, there was a 46.99% drop in the number of active vehicles in the affected areas. Drivers also appeared to stop more frequently or for longer durations, as indicated by an 8.21% increase in average stop time. This may suggest that many remained stationary due to mounting congestion and the lack of traffic direction.