Risky Driving BehaviorWhat’s Behind the Increase in Traffic Deaths?

Texting

Texting while driving increases crash risks significantly. In a recent AAA study, 78.2% of respondents said texting

while driving was “completely unacceptable,” though 40.2% of those same respondents admitted to sending or receiving a text while driving within the previous month.

DrowsinessDrowsy driving was identified as a factor in 21% of fatal car accidents in 2015. The most recent

AAA survey found 80% of drivers calling drowsy driving “completely unacceptable,”

though 28.9% of those same respondents admit to driving while too tired to keep their eyes fully

open at least once in the previous month.

Irresponsible ManeuveringRunning red lights, speeding, erratic lane

changes, and other irresponsible maneuvers often lead to serious or fatal accidents. As an

example, 92.8% of AAA survey respondents said driving through a red light was “completely

unacceptable.” Nonetheless, 35.6% acknowledged doing just that within the past month.

Drug & Alcohol Use

There is no question that intoxication increases the risk of causing a fatal traffic accident – and 63.5% of AAA survey respondents even support lowing the legal BAC to .05. Despite this, 2.5% of survey respondents admit to using marijuana or alcohol

within an hour of driving in the past month.

Being a MillennialAccording to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety,

Millennials are:

More likely to text or email while driving (59.3% compared to 31.4% of drivers in other age groups) More likely to run a red light (50% compared to 36%) More likely to speed in a school zone (12% compared to 5%)

Millennials are, however, less likely to drink and drive.

Regardless of the Cause, We can Help

If you have lost a loved one in an accident, Copple, Rockey, McKeever & Schlecht can help you get the justice you deserve. Call

us at (402) 218-2641 to schedule a free consultation and learn more.