If you feel like the streets around you have been chaotic since the outbreak of the pandemic, you’re not alone – you’re certainly not wrong either. With deaths expected to rise once 2021 data is fully analyzed, AAA Fund for Traffic Safety An annual index that hopes to determine the behavior and attitudes of motorists in the United States can shed light on the situation. Perhaps unsurprisingly, respondents pointed the finger at distracted and inefficient drivers, although many of them admitted to engaging in such behaviour. Do as I say, not as I do, right?
The 2021 index shows that drivers in the United States still strongly disregard the distracting and ineffective driving behavior of others despite doing it themselves. Case in point: 92% said texting while driving was “very” or “extremely” dangerous, with 96% saying someone important to them wouldn’t accept it if they knew it was happening . However, 26% admitted to doing it at some point in the 30 days before the survey. The trend continues with aggressive driving. 88% thought it was “very” or “extremely” dangerous, 96% believed someone would disagree, and 23% tried to do so at some point during the previous driving month.
Despite this disconnection, AAA said social pressure is one of two strong influences on people’s decision to engage in dangerous driving behavior; Others are found to be dangerous. If an action is considered dangerous and unsafe by the majority of the population, then people are less inclined to do it. The bad news is, the possibility of getting caught and fined (or worse) seems to have little effect on most drivers’ decision-making.
Research has delved into a number of behaviors that fall into the categories above, along with substance-related decline and drowsy driving. The most common offenses were driving 15 mph or more on highways (50.7% of respondents), driving while holding and talking on a mobile device (37 .4%) and driving while reading text or email on the screen of their mobile device (36.2%). In addition, 28.2% admitted to having passed at least one red light and 22.9% admitted to following or swerving in traffic.
In terms of spectrum impairment, nearly one in five (18.8%) said they had driven at least once in the past 30 days despite feeling so tired that they couldn’t open their eyes. Only 7.3% said they drove after driving with enough alcohol to qualify for a fine. DUIand 5% admitted to using THC within an hour of driving. That number is up from 2020 numbers, but like the alcohol decline, there is a downward trend from 2018-2020.
“The change in how often American drivers engage in dangerous driving behavior is worrying. While drivers acknowledge that certain activities are behind the wheel – like skirunning “We must be aware of the serious consequences of dangerous driving behaviors and change course,” said Dr David Yang, chief executive officer of the AAA Traffic Safety Foundation.
As we noted above, another key metric is trending in the wrong direction: traffic deaths. NHTSA an estimated 42,915 people will die in car crashes in 2021 — up 10.5% from 2020. Mind your mirror out there.
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