All of us at the CarPro wish all of you safe commutes and journeys through the year ahead. These nine New Year's resolutions to drive more responsibly in the year ahead will help make those roads safer for yourself and other drivers, including law enforcement and first responders who risk their lives every day working traffic incidents.
Distracted driving remains a dangerous and deadly problem on U.S roads. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021, 8 percent of all traffic fatalities.
A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report found that 17.3 percent of respondents self-reported distracted and aggressive driving behaviors.
Many substances can impair driving, including alcohol, some over-the-counter and prescription drugs, and illegal drugs. NHTSA figures show that in 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2020.
The NTHSA reports 12,330 speeding-related death in 2021. Over half (51 percent) of speeding drivers in fatal crashes in 2021 weren't wearing seatbelts.
Further, according to the AAA Foundation's 2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSCI) report, fewer drivers perceive speeding as dangerous. Researchers also say speeding behaviors have the lowest perceived social disapproval of all the examined unsafe driving behaviors. In the study, 22.7 percent of drivers reported driving 15mph over the speed limit on freeways and/or 10mph over on residential streets, but did not engage in most other dangerous behaviors.
Red light running is also a safety issue. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that in 2021, 1,109 people were killed in crashes that involved red light running.
First responders and roadside crews put their lives on the line every day responding to motorist crashes and drivers in distress. Meanwhile, California safety regulators say that in 2021, more than 10,000 work-zone crashes occurred on California roadways, resulting in more than 4,500 injuries and 120 fatalities.
Every state has “Move Over” laws, requiring drivers to move over and/or slow down when approaching stopped emergency vehicles with emergency lights activated.
In Texas, changes to the Move Over or Slow Down law went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023, and impose heftier penalties for violations, including fines of up to $1,250 for a first offense. Stricter penalties for drivers who cause serious injuries by failing to follow these rules now include possible jail time and a fine of up to $4,000.
Pedestrian deaths are increasing at a higher rate than all other traffic fatalities -according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. GHSA says its analysis, which includes 2021 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, found that pedestrian deaths have skyrocketed 77% since 2010, compared to 25% for all other traffic-related deaths. In 2022, GHSA figures show that drivers struck and killed at least 7,508 people walking – that's 20 people killed every day - the most pedestrian deaths since 1981. Researchers attribute the deaths to dangerous driving, inadequate infrastructure, larger and heavier vehicles contribute to record death toll.
In Texas, safety officials report a 30 percent increase in pedestrian traffic deaths from 2018 to 2022. The top contributing factors were pedestrians failing to yield the right-of-way to vehicles, drivers failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, driver inattention and speeding.
California safety officials report t in 2021, there were 1,108 pedestrian fatalities in California, an increase of 9.3% from 2020.
Whether it's a medical condition, or simply getting older, it's difficult to consider giving up your keys. But some medical conditions and things that occur naturally as we age can lead to dangerous driving. For example, seeing at night is one thing that can become more difficult as our eyes change as we get older.
A 2018 AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety study found that nearly 83 percent of older drivers reported never speaking to a family member or physician about their safe driving ability
To read more about aging and driving by visiting the National Institute of Aging website.
The NHTSA reports 684 drowsy driving-related deaths in 2021.
Always resolve to always wear your seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt saves lives. The NHTSA reports that in 2021, 51 percent of speeding drivers in fatal crashes weren't wearing their seatbelts.
Visit the Kailee Mills Foundation for more information on the importance of seatbelt use.