We all know how to be safe drivers. But less than half of us do what we know we should do behind the wheel, according to a new survey.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety surveyed 2,499 drivers about “their perceived level of danger for various driving behaviors.” Most drivers described some behaviors behind the wheel as “very or extremely dangerous,” yet “many admitted to doing these behaviors at least once in the previous 30 days.”
That trend has real-world results. Traffic deaths fell in the first half of 2023, but only after five straight quarters of increases. They remain higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Six Driver Profiles
Researchers used the results to categorize drivers into six groups:
- Safe Drivers (41.2%) – Few in this group reported engaging in risky driving-related behaviors, and more women (57%) composed the Safe Drivers group.
- Speeding Drivers (22.7%) – These drivers reported driving 15mph over the speed limit on freeways and/or 10 mph over on residential streets but did not engage in most other dangerous behaviors.
- Distracted and Aggressive Drivers (17.3%) – Reported distracted driving behaviors (texting while driving), speeding, and aggressive behaviors, such as red-light running and switching lanes quickly.
- Distracted Drivers (15.0%) – These drivers reported distracted driving behaviors such as reading text messages and texting while driving.
- Most Dangerous Drivers (2.4%) – While these drivers consisted of only a small percentage of the drivers, they pose a serious risk to themselves and other road users as they reported engaging in all risky driving-related behaviors.
- Impaired Drivers (1.3%) – Most live in non-metropolitan areas. Interestingly, drivers with a 4-year college degree were far less likely to report driving while impaired. At the same time, the most “over-represented” group consisted of those with some college or an associate degree.
The biggest problem the researchers found? Speeding.
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“Many risky drivers in this study were classified into profiles that involved speeding behavior,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy. “Focusing on speeding drivers will deter other risky driving behaviors like impaired driving and red-light running. This traffic safety measure will have the greatest impact on safety.”
