Dangerous Driving Behaviors on the Rise
After three years of steady declines, some troubling information is out this week. A new report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that from 2020-2021, unsafe driving behaviors has started creeping back up after declining from years prior to 2020. Areas with a rise in unsafe driving included speeding, red-light-running, & drowsy driving. Most alarming, however, was the increase in impaired driving, particularly those who admitted they had been behind the wheel even though they knew it was probable they were over the legal limit for alcohol consumption. The increase in the self-reported impaired drivers was almost 24%. The CoVid 19 pandemic showed an increase in traffic fatalities. After over 38k fatalities in 2020, traffic deaths increased by 10.5% in 2021 to more than 42k.
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BURNSVILLE, MN (December 8, 2022) – A new AAA report reveals that unsafe driving behaviors increased from 2020 to 2021. The increase comes after three years of steady declines.
According to the new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the rise in risky behaviors included speeding, red-light running, drowsy driving, and driving impaired due to cannabis or alcohol. The most alarming increase was among drivers admitting to getting behind the wheel after drinking enough that they felt they were over the legal limit – an increase of nearly 24%.
“The reversal in the frequency of U.S. drivers engaging in risky driving behavior is disturbing,” said Meredith Mitts, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “While drivers acknowledge that certain activities like speeding and driving impaired are not safe, many engage in these activities anyway. This wreckless attitude can be life altering.”
Traffic fatalities have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021. That’s a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2020. According to NHTSA, dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, alcohol impairment, and non-use of seatbelts account for a considerable proportion of the increased fatalities.
