Reckless driving habits continue to put others at risk of injury and death.
Unsafe driving habits often associated with car accidents have become increasingly common in recent years, according to a recent traffic safety study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
“The reversal in the frequency of U.S. drivers engaging in risky driving behavior is disturbing,” David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation, said in a statement published by Forbes. “We must be aware of the serious consequences of dangerous driving behaviors and change course.”
Educating drivers about the dangers of unsafe driving habits will hopefully help reduce the number of serious and fatal car crashes. The car accident attorneys at Hoover Rogers Law, LLP strongly support such efforts since we have seen how devastating such collisions can be for everyone involved. If you or a loved one was injured in an accident in Wichita Falls, TX, or Lawton, OK, contact us today to learn how we can help you.
5 most common dangerous driving habits
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety interviews drivers each year to determine which unsafe driving habits are the most common. In particular, the AAA Foundation asks drivers which dangerous driving habits they have engaged in during the past 30 days. In 2021, the five most common dangerous driving habits, according to the survey, were:
- SPEEDING – 50.7 percent of drivers admitted to driving 15 mph over the speed limit in the last 30 days.
- DISTRACTED DRIVING – 37.4 percent drove while holding a cellphone or talking on a cellphone.
- TEXTING WHILE DRIVING – 36.2 percent drove while reading a text message or email on a cellphone.
- RUNNING A RED LIGHT – 28.2 percent of drivers.
- AGGRESSIVE DRIVING – 22.9 percent of drivers admitted to aggressively tailgating another car or switching lanes without warning in the past 30 days.
5 biggest increases in unsafe driving habits
Because the AAA Foundation conducts the driver survey every year, it can compare dangerous driving habits from one year to the next. For example, compared to a similar study conducted in 2020, the five most significant percentage increases in unsafe driving habits in 2021 were:
- DRUNK DRIVING – 23.7 percent more drivers in 2021 than in 2020 admitted driving after drinking too much alcohol in the last 30 days.
- DRIVING HIGH – 13.6 percent more drivers in 2021 admitted to driving within an hour after consuming cannabis.
- SPEEDING – 12.4 percent increase in 2021 compared to 2020.
- DRIVING THROUGH A RED LIGHT – 10.1 percent increase in 2021.
- TIRED DRIVING – 8.7 percent more drivers in 2021 than in 2020 drove when they were tired and had difficulty keeping their eyes open.
5 tips for avoiding a car crash
Along with documenting dangerous driving habits across the country, the recent AAA Foundation study included five suggestions for avoiding a car accident, including the following:
- Keep your cellphone out of sight while driving to avoid distraction.
- Give yourself more time to get to your destination and slow down.
- Pull over to a safe location and stop driving right away if you feel too tired to drive.
- Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Put your seatbelt on at all times, whether you’re driving or a passenger.
How can a car accident attorney help?
You might think you don’t need a lawyer if an aggressive or reckless driver caused your collision. But the truth is many car accident injury claims often turn out to be complicated legal cases. That’s why it’s critical that injury victims have an experienced attorney on their side, fighting for their rights.
At Hoover Rogers Law, LLP, our attorneys can help you every step of the way. We know the law and understand how the legal system works in Texas and Oklahoma. And we know what it takes to build a strong case that gets results. Discover what we can do for you. Contact our law firm and schedule a free injury case consultation. With offices in Wichita Falls, TX, and Lawton, OK, we handle injury claims in both states.