AAA study shows multiple risky behaviors can lead to a car crash

Missouri drivers are keenly aware of the risks they face when they head out on the road. With reckless drivers, distracted drivers, drunk drivers and other hazards, there is a constant danger of a car crash. Research is essential to determine where the biggest dangers are and to find a way to combat them. With that, the AAA has released its Traffic Safety Culture Index. This survey questioned drivers about their behaviors and activities behind the wheel. It came away with interesting results as to how drivers act.

Distracted driving is a common problem today. Since nearly everyone has a cellphone of some kind, it is easy to be distracted by it. In the survey, slightly more than 49 percent said they had spoken on a hand-held device while behind the wheel. Close to 45 percent said they had read emails or text messages while driving. Almost 35 percent said they had sent a text message or email while driving. Almost 58 percent said they believed that talking on a cellphone was a serious threat to safety, while 78 percent say that texting and driving creates significant danger. Statistics show that those talking on a cellphone while driving are four times more likely to be in a crash. Those texting are eight times as likely.

Half of those who took part in the survey said they had driven 15 mph above the speed limit when on the highway and more than 10 mph above the speed limit in residential areas. Forty-two percent confessed that they went through red lights in the previous month even though they would have been able to stop. Drowsy driving is also an issue, with close to 31 percent saying they drove while having trouble staying awake. Almost 14 percent said they drove after having consumed enough alcohol that they were at or close to the legal limit for intoxication.

Drivers frequently operate under the “do as I say, not as I do” template and expect others to maintain proper safety procedures while they do not follow those same procedures. Unfortunately, these behaviors can lead to accidents, injuries and fatalities. People who have suffered car accident injuries or lost a loved one in a car crash are forced to deal with medical costs, lost time at work and other issues that accompany injuries and death in an accident. Legal assistance is pivotal to recovering compensation for what was lost. An investigation is key to determine the cause of the accident and an attorney can help.

Source: carscoops.com, “AAA Safety Study Reveals Surprising Number Of Red Light Runners And Drunk Drivers,” Michael Gauthier, March 30, 2018