The Top 3 most dangerous driving behaviors according to Safer America are Driving Under the Influence, Distracted Driving, and Speeding. Driving aggressively can kill you as well as make other drivers crazy. Aggressive driving and road rage follows close behind according to most accounts.
No doubt there are combinations of all of the above — which can make America’s roadways a pretty dangerous place to be. Experts (and insurance companies) remind us that dangerous driving behaviors are the number one cause of car accidents and we have it in our power to greatly reduce the carnage. We need to be more mindful, patient, kind, and careful.
Driving Under the Influence
About 30 people die every day in America in car accidents in which a driver was intoxicated, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. DIU means driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Driving a car in the United States is illegal if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is greater than 0.08%.
Driving while intoxicated is a serious crime. Charges can range from misdemeanors to felonies, and penalties for impaired driving can include revocation of a driver’s license, fines, and jail time. It is also very expensive. In addition to fines, fees, and legal bills for DUI attorneys, a first-time offense can result in much higher car insurance rates.
Distracted Driving
Not paying attention to the road is one of the most dangerous driving behaviors. And it’s quite easy for the attention of a driver to be diverted. Cell phones, of course, are the number one distraction. But other people in the car, roadside attractions and advertisements, or electronic maps can take your eyes – and your attention off the road. Distracted driving killed more than 3,000 people in the United States last year, according to NHTSA data.
Speeding
The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop. Speeding also gives you less time to react to another driver’s error, a pedestrian or debris in the roadway, or an emergency vehicle that needs the right of way. Nearly 10,000 people are killed every year in accidents caused by speeding. Speed limits on highways have been shown to save lives. And on side streets and in neighborhoods, speed limits are posted for the safety of all concerned.
If safety and saving lives isn’t enough reason for you to slow down, a speeding ticket is expensive. It adds points to your license and drives up your annual car insurance rates.
Dangerous Driving Behaviors Cause Accidents
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