Motor vehicle deaths have risen substantially over the years, and it’s pretty obvious that folks’ behavior behind the wheel is to blame. Most Americans don’t practice safe driving techniques and far too many people think they can get away with things that are simply putting their lives, and other people’s at risk.
Well, April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month, and the National Safety Council just came out with a list of the most common driver behavior that is putting us all at risk, and it’s pretty apparent we should all be worried on the roads.
Distressing things drivers do, or believe they can do include:
- 47% of drivers think it’s safe to send a text either manually or via voice-dictation systems.
- 45% say they feel pressure from employers to check email while driving; however, 44% say they have crashed in the last three years while they were either commuting or traveling for business.
- 35% of teens have no problem using social media behind the wheel.
- 17% of teens feel their own distraction may have contributed to a crash.
- 71% of drivers believe they can have as many as three drinks before they’re not safe or too impaired to drive.
- 33% believe it is acceptable to drive with less than four hours of sleep, when in reality tired drivers can be as impaired as drivers who are legally drunk.
- 32% of those behind the wheel believe new cars can essentially drive themselves.
- 13% have driven after using marijuana in the last month.
- Two-thirds of drivers have felt unsafe because of another driver’s distraction, but just 25% feel their own distractions have put themselves or others at risk.
Source: National Safety Council