In 2023, nearly 41,000 people were killed in U.S. traffic crashes, a sobering reminder of the ongoing public health crisis on our roads. Despite a slight decrease from 2022, the threat posed by unsafe drivers remains alarmingly high. There’s an unholy trinity of risky driving: Speeding drivers. Distracted drivers. Aggressive drivers. Are you one of the only 35% of drivers on the road considered safe?
Unsafe drivers make up the majority on roadways
A new report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety illuminates this issue by categorizing drivers based on their self-reported risky behaviors. Speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving emerged as the most prevalent dangerous habits.
The annual Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSCI) survey identified five distinct driver profiles. The survey asked drivers about their perceived level of danger for various driving behaviors, with most drivers saying unsafe driving behaviors are very or extremely dangerous. Yet, many have admitted to doing these dangerous behaviors at least once in the previous 30 days.
“Behind every deadly statistic is a real person,” said Dr. David Yang, the AAA Foundation President and Executive Director. “This work helps us uncover the public’s perspective on traffic safety, enabling the creation of targeted solutions that make a real difference in reducing traffic crashes and fatalities.”
Most miles on road driven by “Most Dangerous Drivers”
Safe Drivers admitted to driving less, while Most Dangerous Drivers, who admit to speeding, distracted, and impaired behaviors, logged more miles on the road. This, often in older vehicles with fewer safety features. Safe Drivers condemned risky driving behaviors, but other profiles seemed more indifferent to the dangers. Surprisingly, Safe Drivers and their riskier counterparts shared a similar disregard for the potential consequences of their actions.
Distracted driving:
Most drivers (93%) recognize the dangers of texting, emailing, and reading while driving.
However, many drivers reported sending a text/email (27%), reading a text/email (37%), or holding and talking on a phone (36%) while driving in the past 30 days.
Aggressive Driving and Speeding:
Most drivers perceive aggressive driving (89%) and running red lights (81%) as dangerous. Yet 27% ran at least one red light in the previous 30 days. And nearly half (49%) admitted to driving 15 mph over the posted speed limit on a freeway at least once in the past 30 days, while 36% of drivers reported driving 10 mph over the posted speed limit on a residential street.
Drowsy Driving:
Most drivers (96%) recognize the dangers of drowsy driving, but 20% admitted to driving while drowsy in the previous 30 days.
Impaired Driving:
Drivers overwhelmingly perceive drunk driving as dangerous (95%) and socially unacceptable. Yet 7% admitted engaging in this behavior in the previous 30 days.
By comparison, only 70% of drivers felt driving within an hour of using cannabis to be very or extremely dangerous, and 6% reported having done it in the previous 30 days.
Unsafe drivers by percentage
The survey identified five distinct driver profiles:
- Safe Drivers: Rarely engage in risky behaviors – 34.9%
- Distracted Drivers: Primarily engage in all distracted driving behaviors – 19%
- Speeding Drivers: Primarily engage in speeding behaviors – 32.6%
- Distracted and Aggressive Drivers: Engage in distracted and aggressive driving – 11%
- Most Dangerous Drivers: Engage in all risky driving behaviors – 2.5%
“It’s time to work smarter with the resources we have to save lives,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy. “The AAA Foundation’s new survey highlights that most risk-taking drivers also speed. By prioritizing speed enforcement, police can curb a wide range of risky driving behaviors and maximize their lifesaving impact.”
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Feeling good about being in the 35% bracket. 😀
Yes.. And more alert and wary of the other 65% 🫣
I too can join the 35% club – no accidents and no tickets…. frustrations – Oh Ya! You are both right on target! “Hang Up and Drive!”
I think the 34% is very high. I believe it closer 20%.
Cell phones are a public nuisance and should be automatically turned off when a vehicle is started. I know they have technology to do this…like it or not….goes for talking to the car…those idiotic things hanging out of people’s ears. What the hey has happened to society? Some of us are sick and tired of morons running red lights and cutting us off then stopping.
Thanks for posting this article…. if it is read and saves one life or even one accident – it was worth the time to read and heed.
Driving needs to be restored as a privilege and not a right. Anyone adding to the stress on the roads should not be driving. Start with tailgaters and impose roadside public spankings in lieu of fines. Charge the cell phone carriers when accidents happen while their products are in use and make them liable, maybe even background checks to get a cellphone as they are the greatest danger to society most of us have ever seen.
When I grew up in driver’s ed and the state pushed ‘defensive driving’ – you are constantly looking around and ahead. They have not taught it the last few decades. We were taught to keep an eye on other drivers at intersections but you can’t do that anymore. Windows are allowed to be tinted so dark often you can’t even see the driver.
Do they still have driver’s ed in schools, or did it go away with shop classes?
Good question, they may have dropped it in favor of private enterprise. Lot’s of driving schools. But driving instruction in this country is pretty minimal to be honest. We can do so much more to prepare young drivers for the road. The car club I belong to puts on a twice yearly driving clinic where we teach driver safety with modern cars. Braking (wet, dry and turning while braking), slalom for weight transfer and sudden turns, watered down skid pad for how to spin out safely. Most people have never engaged their brakes fully and have no idea how long it takes to stop. They have no idea what would happen if they had to suddenly change directions or god forbid, loose control in a wet or icy situation. This lack of familiarity with your car is dangerous and easily fixed with a few short hours of training.
Police are too busy to enforce tinted window laws, muffler noise limits, less than 15 miles over speed limit, using a cell phone, no front plate etc. But if they would…
No mystery. Reduce speed, don’t read or answer text messages, follow traffic laws. Anytime Americans want to reduce highway deaths.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Wow! Such a small percentage for “safe driving” certainly encourages fewer miles driven between RVing destinations. Yikes! Happy new year and safe travels!