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Top Five Dangerous Driving Habits
Everyone should know about these common dangerous driving habits, so we can avoid them and be safer, more responsible drivers. After all, you wouldn’t want to be hurt in a car accident or hurt someone else, would you?
1.) Impaired Driving
Per the National Transportation Safety Board, between 2010 and 2014, one-third of all traffic-related deaths were caused by drunk drivers. In 2014 in Washington there was also a notable spike in the numbers of drivers who tested positive for marijuana use.
2.) Texting While Driving
Well, duh. You see it everywhere and the news is filled with horror stories of accidents while drivers are texting. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminds you, “text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention.” It just makes sense that these abilities should be directed toward driving– not a cell phone.
3.) Speeding
NHTSA reported that nationally, 28% of all traffic deaths resulted from speeding. They noted that 41% of those deaths involved speed and impaired driving and 36% were 15-to-20-year-old male drivers behind the wheel. Slow down.
4.) Road Rage
NHTSA defines aggressive driving (aka road rage) as happening when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” NHTSA cites that between 2003 and 2007 56% of fatal crashes from aggressive driving.
5.) Failure to Wear a Seatbelt
79% of people died when ejected from a car during a crash. Per NHTSA, seatbelts saved over 12,500 lives in 2014. In 2016, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission is promoting a “Click it or Ticket” campaign to raise awareness about always wearing your seat belt. It’s the law.
Be safe on the roads. Buckle up, don’t drink and drive, pay attention when you are behind the wheel, and stay calm. The Walthew Law Firm handles many car accident cases. Our Seattle lawyers for vehicle accidents will start investigating your car or truck accident today. Just contact The Walthew Law Firm at (206) 812-2997 or toll free at (888) 534-5255.