AAA Study Reveals Common Dangerous Driving Habits

Certain behaviors behind the wheel increase the risk of car accidents.

Car accidents happen every day in New Hampshire. In many cases, these collisions occur due to certain dangerous driving habits, according to a recent traffic safety study conducted by the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety.

“Despite acknowledging the dangers, some drivers continue to engage in potentially deadly behaviors, particularly speeding,” Dr. David Yang, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety President and Executive Director, said in a recent statement.

What are the most common dangerous driving habits?

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently conducted an in-depth study focusing on which dangerous driving behaviors often result in car accidents. Released late last year, the study titled “2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index” analyzed why motor vehicle accidents happened based on accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to the study, some of the most common dangerous driving habits that motorists engaged in during 2022 include:

• Driving through a red light –8 percent admitted to running a red light at least once in the previous 30 days.
• Speeding – 7 percent of drivers admitted to driving 15 mph over the speed limit on highways or 10 mph over the speed limit on residential streets.
• Drowsy driving – 9 percent admitted to driving while so tired they could barely keep their eyes open.
• Aggressive driving –3 percent admitted to driving aggressively.
• Distracted driving, including texting while driving – 15 percent of drivers admitted to driving distracted.
• Drunk driving –3 percent of drivers surveyed admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Who are the most dangerous drivers?

The same traffic safety study found that the most dangerous drivers are:

• Male drivers, who scored higher in nearly every dangerous driving behavior, especially speeding. The only exception was distracted driving, which more women than men admitted to doing within the past 30 days.
• Drivers 19 to 24 years old, who had the highest reported rates for holding a cellphone while driving (48.8 percent within the past 30 days) and reading a text message or email while driving (55.7 percent).

Are certain bad driving habits getting worse?

Sadly, there seems to be little change in some of the most dangerous driving habits in recent years. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety noted that traffic fatalities were only projected to decrease by 0.1 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, according to preliminary NHTSA accident data.

The recent traffic safety study also noted that “compared to 2020, both Americans' daily driving patterns and the traffic volumes on major corridors increased in 2021 and remained at a similar level in 2022.”

How dangerous are New Hampshire drivers?

Unfortunately, drivers in New Hampshire continue to cause car accidents due to dangerous driving behaviors. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of car accident fatalities for several dangerous driving habits increased in New Hampshire, according to NHTSA data. In particular, there was an 18.4 percent increase in drunk driving fatalities between 2019 and 2021.

In addition, at least 5.9 percent of car accident deaths are due to distracted drivers, according to the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety. However, that number could be higher since distracted driving is often underreported.

Why should I hire a New Hampshire car accident attorney?

Serious car accidents in New Hampshire often quickly turn into complex legal cases. Sometimes, it’s because the at-fault driver denies doing anything wrong. Other times, it’s insurance companies that are the problem.

Whatever the circumstances of your case, our New Hampshire car accident lawyers at Burns, Bryant, Cox, Rockefeller & Durkin, P.A. can help you every step of the way. With more than 150 years of service to the community, our law firm has the knowledge and experience you need to demand the justice and compensation you deserve.

Get the law firm that has recovered millions for injury victims and their families. Contact us and schedule an appointment with a New Hampshire car accident attorney that puts your best interests first. We can meet with you in one of our offices in Dover or Portsmouth or another location that’s convenient for you.