Driving is a seemingly innocuous part of modern life and, for many, has become second nature. But because driving comes so naturally, we often forget how dangerous it can be. Too often people drive impaired or get distracted behind the wheel.
A U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study in 2024 found that there were 42,514 motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the U.S. in 2022. Driving under the influence, texting and driving, speeding and drowsy driving are some of the most dangerous driving activities.
- About 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day.
- More than 50% of drivers involved in severe injury and fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug.
- In 2022, 3,308 people were killed and 289,310 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers.
Table of contents
- Risky driving behavior No. 1: Drunk driving
- Risky driving behavior No. 2: Drug-impaired driving
- Risky driving behavior No. 3: Distracted driving
- Risky driving behavior No. 4: Not using seat belts
- Risky driving behavior No. 5: Speeding
- Risky driving behavior No. 6: Drowsy driving
Risky driving behavior No. 1: Drunk driving
According to the NHTSA, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes daily. That adds up to one person every 52 minutes dying in preventable crashes. In 2022, 13,524 people died in drunken-driving crashes.
“Alcohol impairment is scientifically shown to reduce driver response times and reaction times, thereby greatly increasing the potential for a crash,” says Sam Morrissey, former executive director of Urban Movement Labs, a nonprofit working to design and deploy transportation technology. “There have been many years of evolving policies to reduce the instances of this behavior, and it is a combination of stricter enforcement and serious penalties.”
Even in small amounts, alcohol can affect a driver’s reaction time and driving ability. As alcohol is ingested, it passes into the bloodstream and accumulates before the liver metabolizes it. The NHTSA says the weight of the alcohol measures the alcohol level in a specific volume of blood, called Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol can lead to severe penalties. If you are convicted of a DUI, you may lose your driving privileges and your auto insurance policy could be canceled. Additionally, your car insurance rates may increase after a DUI, costing an average of 80% more each year.
Risky driving behavior No. 2: Drug-impaired driving
It’s illegal in the U.S. to drive under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, cocaine, or any other impairing drug—illicit, prescribed or over-the-counter.
More than 50% of drivers involved in severe injury and fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug, the NHTSA says.
Here are the effects of common drugs:
- Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs slow coordination, judgment and reaction times.
- Cocaine and methamphetamine can make drivers more aggressive and reckless.
- Using two or more drugs together can compound the impairing effects of each drug.
- Some prescription and OTC medicines can cause extreme drowsiness and dizziness.
DetailsThe Governors Highway Safety Association has a map featuring drug-impaired driving laws nationwide.
Risky driving behavior No. 3: Distracted driving
Distracted driving is another risky behavior. But it goes beyond texting and handheld cell phone usage—it can involve talking to people in your vehicle, eating and drinking, or using your vehicle’s entertainment or navigation system.
And distracted driving is dangerous, resulting in the deaths of 3,308 people in 2022—and 289,310 people injured—according to the NHTSA. Texting is the largest culprit—sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds, which, at 55 mph, is like driving across a football field with your eyes closed.
Most states—47 states plus the District of Columbia—have laws against texting while driving. If you receive a ticket for texting and driving, it’s likely to raise your auto insurance rates.
Read about the penalties for talking and texting on a cell phone while driving
Risky driving behavior No. 4: Not using seat belts
Drivers and passengers who fail to buckle up when they get into a car face high risks in the event of a crash—50% of passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in 2022 in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
The NHTSA says buckling up is the most effective way to protect yourself in a crash. Seat belts prevent ejection from a vehicle and are designed to work with airbags, protecting passengers and drivers in the event of a crash.
Risky driving behavior No. 5: Speeding
Speeding is a top contributor to crashes along America’s roadways and is a type of aggressive driving, which has been on the rise. Speeding killed 12,151 people in 2022, according to the NHTSA.
“While there are specific penalties for driving at very high speeds, typically referred to as reckless driving, there is absolutely not the level of policy and penalties as there are for impaired driving,” Morrissey says. “While there are usually point systems assigned to state driver’s licenses, the structure and frequency of penalties almost guarantee that only the most egregious drivers would face the stiffest penalties. Meanwhile, speed-related crashes continue, and fatality rates on our roadways continue to increase.”
Here are the NHTSA’s consequences of speeding:
- Increased potential for loss of vehicle control.
- Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment.
- Increased stopping distance.
- Increased degree of crash severity.
- Economic implications of a speed-related crash.
- Increased fuel consumption/cost.
Speeding can also affect your auto insurance rates. On average, drivers will pay 33% higher premiums following a speeding ticket, and these rates could be in effect for three years. A speeding ticket could also result in a driver losing their safe driving discount, increasing your rate.
Risky driving behavior No. 6: Drowsy driving
Drowsy driving is another risky driving behavior and can lead to impaired cognition and performance and motor vehicle crashes. There were 684 drowsy-driving-related crashes in 2021, according to the NHTSA.
Young drivers, who lack the experience and judgment to break for a rest are the most likely to have fallen asleep at the wheel, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Here are the three most common factors in drowsy-driving crashes:
- They occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m. or late afternoon.
- They often involve only a single driver (and no passengers) running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking.
- Crashes frequently occur on rural roads and highways.
Are women at greater risk for serious injury in a car crash?
Resources & Methodology
Sources
NHTSA. “Distracted Driving in 2022.” Accessed April 2024.
NHTSA. “Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2022.” Accessed April 2024.
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