Visitors volumes have made an enormous comeback post-pandemic, and although the post-pandemic excessive charge of visitors fatalities has began to ease barely, deaths amongst pedestrians and cyclists stay on the rise. An annual AAA research sheds gentle on the kind of driver behind these statistics. The information is, nearly all of us admitted to unhealthy driving habits although we all know higher.
The AAA Basis for Visitors Security interviewed 2,499 drivers for the survey and parsed them into six varieties, and dived deep into their driving behaviors. The group requested drivers questions on their attitudes towards security — in addition to their actions behind the wheel within the earlier 30 days. Typically, attitudes didn’t match actions, and solely 41% of drivers surveyed fell into what AAA calls its “Safe Drivers” class.
In different phrases, 6 in 10 of us admitted to unsafe driving, specifically, rushing. The survey categorized 27% of respondents as “Speeding Drivers.”
“Despite acknowledging the dangers, some drivers continue to engage in potentially deadly behaviors, particularly speeding,” stated Dr. David Yang, president and government director of the AAA Basis for Visitors Security. “Understanding the different types of risky driving behaviors and the characteristics of drivers who engage in them is crucial for developing targeted interventions to achieve safe mobility.”
The Visitors Security Tradition Index (TSCI) report slotted survey respondents into six driver profiles:
- Protected Drivers: Few engaged in any dangerous driving habits.
- Distracted Drivers: Predominantly engaged in all distracted driving behaviors, most notably cellphone use.
- Dashing Drivers: Predominantly engaged in rushing behaviors.
- Distracted and Aggressive Drivers: Predominantly engaged in each distracted and aggressive driving behaviors.
- Impaired Drivers: Predominantly engaged in impaired driving (e.g., drunk driving).
- Most Harmful Drivers: Engaged in all dangerous driving behaviors
In response to the 2022 index, 93% of drivers stated those that use a cellphone to textual content or e-mail or learn whereas driving are “very” or “extremely” harmful. Drivers additionally agreed that any individual essential to them would disapprove in the event that they did it. Nonetheless, 27% of drivers admitted they’ve despatched a textual content or e-mail whereas driving, 38% have handheld a cellphone throughout a name, and 37% learn a textual content or e-mail.
Some 83% of these surveyed stated driving via a crimson gentle was “very” or “extremely” harmful, whereas 89% condemned aggressively switching lanes or tailgating. But, fewer drivers take into account rushing as a harmful exercise and had the “lowest perceived social disapproval,” with roughly half saying they’ve traveled 15 mph over the pace restrict.
“Many risky drivers in this study were classified into profiles that involved speeding behavior. Focusing on speeding drivers will deter other risky driving behaviors like impaired driving and red-light running. This traffic safety measure will have the greatest impact on safety,” stated Yang.
The largest concern for “very” or “extremely” harmful driving is drowsy driving, with 93% agreeing that is unhealthy. Nonetheless, previously 30 days, 18% reported they’ve pushed drowsy.
And 94% stated impaired driving is “very” or “extremely” harmful. Out of these surveyed, 7% stated they’ve pushed after consuming alcohol, sufficient to qualify for a DUI.
As compared, 70% of drivers are involved that driving with THC of their system is “very” or “extremely” harmful. Solely 6% of drivers acknowledged they’ve pushed after utilizing THC inside an hour. That share is up in comparison with the TSCI numbers within the 2021 index.
These unsafe behaviors similar to rushing, alcohol involvement and non-use of a seatbelt have performed a vital function within the variety of visitors deaths, in accordance with the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA). The rise in pedestrian fatalities has been significantly alarming, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has known as this a “national crisis of traffic deaths” and has allotted billions of {dollars} in infrastructure spending to handle it.
You may discover extra particulars within the full AAA Visitors Security Tradition Index research report.