Habits and Misconceptions that Make the Roads More Dangerous

​Top Habits and Misconceptions That Make The Roads More Dangerous

In recent years, motor vehicle deaths have increased significantly. The National Safety Council pinpointed some of the most common beliefs and behaviors of drivers that put everyone on the road at risk. During the past year, NSC surveys were collected to show the surprising rates of dangerous habits and opinions. Researchers said that these could especially explain why fatalities were on the rise. They also said that their findings showed the urgency of promoting awareness of misconceptions and dangerous habits. 

Experts said that while most drivers understand the basic dangers and risks on roadways, they do not take the proper steps to make their own driving habits safer. Many people still believe that bad things are more likely to happen to other drivers than to them. This is even true among drivers who admit to driving distracted. Many believe that they can safely manage distractions such as using a cell phone while driving. These were some of the top dangerous habits of American drivers according to the research report:

• More than 45 percent of drivers said that it was safe to send text messages using voice dictation or manual input.
• More than 70 percent of drivers said that they could drink three alcoholic beverages before they were too impaired to drive.
• Approximately 35 percent of teens admitted to checking their social media notifications or interacting on social media while driving.
• More than 15 percent of teens who were in accidents said that their own distractions were the cause of the crash.
• More than 30 percent of drivers felt that they could drive safely with fewer than four hours of sleep.
• Nearly 15 percent of drivers admitted to using marijuana while driving within the past month.
• More than 30 percent of drivers felt that new vehicles could practically drive themselves and did not require as much concentration to operate.
• While only 25 percent of drivers felt that their own distractions were dangerous, nearly 70 percent said that they were concerned about the risky behavior of other drivers.
• About 45 percent of people said that they felt compelled to check cellphone notifications while driving because of demanding employers, and about 45 percent of those who reported feeling this way had crashed within the last few years.

Council researchers try to remind motorists every year of the dangers of distracted driving and the realities of just how unsafe popular misconceptions are. To learn more about staying safer on the roads, speak with one of our agents. Call 214-275-8372