WILKES-BARRE — There’s some encouraging news about bad behaviors behind the wheel, but some extremely bad news as well.
AAA Mid-Atlantic reports that a new survey finds there has been a recent overall decrease in “risky driving,” but also finds that there has been an increase in fatalities.
So, understating the situation, AAA says there remains plenty of room for improvement.
And my friend Eileen Woelkers Miller who fought for the passage of HB37 — The Enhanced Driver Responsibility Legislation for Safety on our Roads act – would agree.
Miller’s son, Paul, was killed by a distracted driver in July 2010. Eileen has dedicated her life to speaking to high school kids, legislators and anyone else who will listen about the evils of distracted driving.
As fatalities on our nation’s roadways continue to rise at a disturbing rate, the new AAA survey indicates that there has been a decline in unsafe driving behaviors, but speeding and handheld cellphone use remain stubbornly high, putting all motorists and pedestrians at risk.
In responding to the annual survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers self-reported engaging less frequently in all unsafe behaviors including red-light running, drowsy driving and driving while impaired on cannabis or alcohol.
However, nearly half of drivers surveyed admitted to speeding in the last 30 days — and didn’t think they’d ever be caught by police. More than a third of those surveyed felt the same way about holding or talking on a cellphone while driving.
The survey did not address whether changes in lifestyle brought on by the pandemic contributed to the reported changes in driving behaviors for better or worse.
“Whatever the reason, it is encouraging to see a reduction in some unsafe behaviors but still troubling to see others persist,” says Jana Tidwell, Manager of Public & Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “The ultimate goal is to see the majority of drivers form safe driving habits and practice them whenever they’re on the road.”
Amen to that.
According to the survey, all risky behaviors have declined, to some extent, over the past three years, but the increase in fatalities illustrates that there remains room for improvement across the board.
As more Americans return to the daily commute, AAA reminds all motorists to practice safe driving behaviors by focusing on the task of driving — like our parents always told us, “keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.” remember the old “10 and 2” hand positioning on the steering wheel?
AAA says while fewer Americans took to the roads in 2020 due to the pandemic, those that did appeared to take greater risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that an estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes — an increase of 7.2% and the largest number of fatalities since 2007.
And, the numbers for 2021 look even worse, as NHTSA estimates 8,730 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first three months of the year.
While the reasons for this increase are being studied, the AAA Foundation’s TSCI reveals some areas of admitted driving behavior that remain disturbingly high, despite declining since 2018:
• Speeding and using a cellphone. Unfortunately, drivers who participated in the TSCI survey admit to risky driving behaviors despite knowing that loved ones, family or friends would strongly disapprove. Cellphone use is one such area where perception and behavior do not match.
While we are seeing positive trends in safer driving behaviors, it’s not quite time to declare victory,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research. “Downward trends in self-reported impaired driving, red-light running, and drowsy driving is the kind of progress we need to curb the recent spikes in traffic fatalities. The self-reported speeding and cellphone use are major concerns – we can do better.”
AAA recommends these safety tips to keep in mind:
• Obey speed limits.
• Stow your smartphone away, turn it to airplane mode, or activate call/text blocking features.
• Only drive sober.
• Stay alert.
Simple, yet critical advice. And it should be easy to follow.
Your life and the lives of others depend on it.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle, or email at [email protected]
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