Risky Driving Behavior Analyzed
‘Safe’ drivers on the roads less than those who admit to engaging in dangerous moves, AAA survey finds.

Though traffic deaths decreased last year, almost 41,000 died on U.S. roads, AAA said.
Pixabay/Alexas Fotos
New research finds that drivers who are more likely to engage in risky behaviors on the road also spend more time behind the wheel, revealing the elevated danger the phenomenon presents.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety polling of active drivers found that though the vast majority of them agree certain behaviors are dangerous, including texting behind the wheel, not a few admit to engaging in them at times.
The research also pinpointed the most common dangerous habits: speeding, distracted driving and aggressive driving.
“This work helps us uncover the public’s perspective on traffic safety, enabling the creation of targeted solutions that make a real difference in reducing traffic crashes and fatalities,” said foundation President and Executive Director David Yang.
More than a quarter of survey respondents – 27% – said they’d texted or emailed on the road, 37% had read a text or email, and 36% had held and talked on a phone in the previous 30 days.
Meanwhile, 27% of survey respondents said they’d run at least one red light during the period; 49% had driven 15 mph over a freeway’s speed limit at least once; and 36% had exceeded a residential street’s speed limit by 10 mph. Twenty percent said they’d driven while drowsy; 7% said they’ve driven while drunk, 6% had gotten behind the wheel within an hour of using marijuana.
AAA identified five driver profiles based on the safety of drivers’ behavior, finding that the various unsafe categories outweigh the safe-driver one. It found that safe drivers comprise 35% of those on the road; distracted drivers 19%; speeders 33%; distracted and aggressive drivers 11%; and the most dangerous drivers, who engage in all of the risky behaviors, make up about 3%.
Interestingly, fewer respondents said they perceive driving on pot extremely dangerous than those who consider driving drunk as such, 70% versus 95%.
More Industry

Pennsylvania Dealership Under New Retailers
The sale of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store puts a family auto group on a leaner path as first-time dealers take the helm.
Read More →
Battery Storage Takes Priority Over EVs
U.S. automakers are prioritizing battery energy stationary storage over electric-vehicle production as the consumer demand for EVs lags the rest of the world.
Read More →
Auto Dealers Feel Better But Not Great
A second-quarter Cox Automotive poll of franchised retailers and independents found better views of the current market after a good spring but anticipation of third-quarter storminess.
Read More →
New-Vehicle Sales Picture Relative
A May forecast is complicated by last spring’s trade tariff effects on auto retail. Despite continued hard realities, many consumers took advantage of ways to bite the bullet.
Read More →
Auto Group Acquires Third Nissan Rooftop
Iowa-based Coleman Automotive Group recently acquired its seventh dealership, McGrath Nissan, which it renamed Nissan of Elgin.
Read More →
April Less Affordable
Based on prices, reduced incentives and slower household income growth, consumers found it more challenging to buy new last month, Cox Automotive reported.
Read More →
Building an Extraordinary F&I Agency
Work to determine your specialized talent, because that fact will determine everything about your agency’s future.
Read More →
Recipe for Compliance
The secret to both amazing barbecue and compliance is the same: understanding the basics and committing to a process.
Read More →
EVs Getting More Attractive
A growing percentage of U.S. consumers are open to switching and fewer are adverse to the idea, according to a recently completed survey. That’s despite the end of a tax break.
Read More →
EV Sales Drop in April Following Surge
North American electric-vehicle sales were down 28% year-over-year, a sharp contrast from global EV sales growth of 6%.
Read More →