New Report Identifies Types of Drivers by Dangerous Behavior

Whether you are driving in Encinitas or anywhere else in San Diego County or across Southern California, you are likely to observe or encounter some type of risky driving behavior. From motorists who speed by you to those you observe texting while driving despite traveling at a relatively high speed behind the wheel, dangerous driving behaviors are, unfortunately, a norm. In fact, according to a recent report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 50% of all drivers engage in at least one type of risky behavior on a regular basis while driving. That report classifies motorists by the type of dangerous behavior that they routinely engage in, and it provides information about the percentage of each kind of driver on the road.

Our Encinitas car accident lawyers can tell you more about the report, and we can help you if you are injured in a crash and need to file a claim.

Driver Profiles By Risky Behavior

What are the classifications of motorists — or driver profiles — based on the types of risky behaviors they regularly engage in while driving? The report identifies the following six categories and identifies the percentage for each that makes up the total driving population:

• Safe drivers (41.2%);
• Speeding drivers (22.7%);
• Distracted and aggressive drivers (17.3%);
• Distracted drivers (15%);
• Most dangerous drivers (2.4%); and
• Impaired drivers (1.3%).

As you can see, some drivers regularly engage in multiple dangerous behaviors while they are behind the wheel, such as distracted and aggressive driving. You may be wondering: what kinds of behaviors classify a driver as one of the “most dangerous drivers”? These drivers engaged in all of the risky behaviors identified.

Most Dangerous Types of Driving Behaviors

What are all of the types of dangerous driving behaviors? The AAA report cites the following as the most common:

• Speeding;
• Red-light running;
• Switching lanes quickly;
• Reading and/or sending text messages while driving; and
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

While more than 50% of motorists fall into one of the categories of dangerous drivers and routinely engage in at least one of the types of risky actions (or omissions) cited above, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report underscores that those motorists do not recognize the harms in which they are engaging. To be sure, as the report emphasizes, the “majority of drivers perceived unsafe driving behaviors as very or extremely dangerous, and yet, as in past years, many admitted to doing these behaviors at least once in the previous 30 days.” And perhaps even worse, breaking the habits of engaging in risky behavior — especially speeding — is extremely difficult, according to the report.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Encinitas

Nobody in Southern California should have to worry about being injured in a crash caused by a negligent motorist. However, as the AAA report clearly points out, more than half of all drivers on the road behave negligently at least some of the time. As such, there is often a risk of being involved in a traffic collision when you are traveling on a freeway or local road. If you were injured recently in an accident and you suspect another driver’s negligent behavior is to blame, an experienced Encinitas auto accident lawyer at our firm can discuss your options with you for seeking compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm today to learn more about how we can help.

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