Zuno Report Highlights Riskiest Driving Hours, Behavioral Factors on Indian Roads

Zuno General Insurance has released its India Road Safety Report (IRSR) 2026, identifying the 9 PM to 10 PM slot as the riskiest driving hour across the country. The comprehensive report underscores the significant role of driving behavior as a predictor of road risk, rather than demographic factors such as gender.

The IRSR 2026, compiled from an analysis of over 4.5 million trips, 55 million kilometers of driving data, and insights from more than 27,000 active users of the Zuno SmartDrive app across 17 states, provides a data-driven perspective on prevalent road safety challenges. The findings suggest a critical need for interventions focused on driver behavior.

Zuno: Key Findings from the India Road Safety Report 2026

The report detailed several notable observations regarding driving patterns and risk:

* **Riskiest and Safest Hours:** The period between 9 PM and 10 PM registered the lowest average driving score of 86, classifying it as the riskiest hour. Conversely, 1 PM to 2 PM was identified as the safest, with an average score of 93. Driving scores remained generally stable throughout the day but showed a sharp decline after 8 PM.

* **Gender and Driving Scores:** The analysis revealed a marginal difference in driving scores between genders, with women averaging 92.86 and men 92.43. This indicates that overall driving behavior is a more significant determinant of road risk than gender.

* **Behavioral Risk Indicators:** Sudden braking (score of 87) and harsh acceleration (score of 91) were highlighted as the most prominent behavioral weaknesses among Indian motorists. The report estimates that behavioral factors contribute to over 80% of road accidents in India.

* **Limited Seasonal Impact:** Seasonal variations across summer, monsoon, and winter demonstrated a limited impact on average driving behavior scores, which remained largely consistent.

Shanai Ghosh, MD and CEO of Zuno General Insurance (https://www.zunogeneral.com/), commented on the report’s implications, stating, “Road safety remains one of India’s most important public challenges, impacting lives, livelihoods, and economic productivity. Through Zuno SmartDrive, we have had a front-row view of driving behavior across millions of journeys, and one insight stands out clearly: road accidents are often driven by identifiable and measurable behavioral patterns.” Ghosh added that the report emphasizes how data, driving patterns, and technology can supplement existing infrastructure, enforcement, and vehicle safety measures to create safer roads, contributing to India’s road safety goals.

National Road Safety Context

The release of the IRSR 2026 comes amidst ongoing national efforts to enhance road safety. India records approximately 1.73 lakh road fatalities annually, accounting for nearly 11% of global road deaths. The economic toll of road accidents is substantial, estimated at 3-5% of the country’s GDP. A significant portion of fatalities, nearly two-thirds, occurs among individuals aged 18-45 years. Vulnerable road users, particularly two-wheeler riders (44% of all road deaths) and pedestrians (nearly 19%), are disproportionately affected.

India is committed to the Stockholm Declaration, aiming to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030. The report’s findings reinforce the need for a coordinated approach involving infrastructure improvements, stringent enforcement, and targeted behavioral interventions to achieve these national and international road safety objectives.

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