Are You a Driver Who Takes Risks?

Drivers in Kentucky and across the nation continue to risk the loss of life and limb in car accidents, including even drivers who have lost a loved one or been seriously injured in a crash, according to a new report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The report catalogs widespread reckless driving behavior among more than 2,700 drivers surveyed. Among the dangerous driving behaviors that drivers acknowledged that they had recently engaged in:

• Running a stoplight. More than a third (36 percent) admitted running red lights, yet 55 percent said it is a very serious threat and 73 percent said such behavior is completely unacceptable.
• Speeding on residential streets. Nearly half (44 percent) reported exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph or more, yet 65 percent called it completely unacceptable.
• Drowsy driving. Nearly a third (29 percent) admitted to driving while drowsy, though 45 percent said such fatigued driving is a very serious threat and 81 percent said it is completely unacceptable.
• Texting /emailing while driving. More than a quarter (27 percent) admitted typing or sending a text or email while behind the wheel, though 79 percent of drivers called it a very serious threat to safety and 84 percent said it is completely unacceptable.

Among the drivers admitting to such dangerous behavior, one in three said they have a loved one who has been seriously injured or killed in a crash, one in five have themselves been involved in a serious crash, and one in 10 has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash.

“As in previous years, the 2014 Traffic Safety Culture Index found that an attitude of ‘do as I say, not as I do’ persists among motorists, many of whom admit to engaging in the same dangerous behaviors that they criticize as being ‘unacceptable,’” the report says.

When dangerous drivers cause accidents that injure others, the drivers and their insurance company should be help accountable. A personal injury attorney can explain your legal rights if you have been injured by a dangerous driver.

The report also says 85 percent of drivers surveyed called distracted driving a bigger problem today compared with three years ago, yet:

• 2 in 3 drivers reported talking on their cell phone while driving
• 1 in 3 drivers reported talking on their cell phone often while driving
• 1 in 3 drivers admitted reading a text message or email while behind the wheel.

Further, “two out of three drivers believe hands-free phone use is acceptable, and nearly half (46 percent) of drivers who report using speech-based in-vehicle systems say they do not believe these systems are at all distracting. These results are prevalent despite extensive research indicating that hands-free devices can lead to cognitive distraction,” a news release says.

Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, called drivers’ attitudes toward safety disappointing. “The good news is that we all have the ability to make safer choices, and can personally enhance our safety while driving,” Kissinger said.

How about you? Do you take risks behind the wheel or do you make personal choices that enhance your – and our – safety on the road?

We hope you’re among those who consider safe driving a personal obligation that you strive to meet every time you get behind the wheel. We know that even if you are, others are not and you can be seriously injured in a car accident despite doing everything correctly yourself.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you have rights. The legal staff of the Frank Jenkins Law Office is ready to stand up for you. Contact us today.