Risky Driving Behaviors

• September 18, 2023
• Personal Injury, Safety

Unsafe driving habits contribute significantly to roadway accidents and fatalities.  According to NHTSA, the riskiest driving behaviors include drunk driving, drug-impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and drowsy driving. Unfortunately, many drivers still engage in unsafe driving behaviors, needlessly endangering not just themselves and their passengers but others on the road. Understanding these risky driving behaviors can help you be a more defensive driver.

Below are common dangerous driving behaviors that often contribute to accidents.

---

Risky Driving Behaviors to Avoid

Drunk Driving

Every day, approximately 34 people in the U.S. die in drunk driving accidents; that translates to one person every 42 minutes (2023 data, NHTSA) or 12,429 alcohol-impaired driving deaths.

• Alcohol-impaired driving crashes cause almost a third of all traffic-related deaths.
• People drive drunk nearly 300,000 times every day.
• 4,000 people are arrested for drunk driving daily.
• 2,117 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07 g/dL. (2023)

The reality: Alcohol significantly impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction times, increasing the likelihood of deadly crashes.

Drug-impaired driving

“Marijuana can make you a safer driver.” Not true. Research shows that marijuana impairs motor skills, lane tracking, and cognitive functions.

• Certain drugs can impair driving ability by slowing coordination, judgment, and reaction times. Others can make you more aggressive and reckless.
• Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects.
• Impaired drivers often struggle to accurately assess their own level of impairment.

Bottom line: driving while impaired by any substance is against the law

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving took 3,275 lives in 2023 (NHTSA). Whether manual, visual, or cognitive, distractions greatly reduce a driver’s ability to react and make safe decisions.

• 8% of fatal crashes involved distracted drivers in 2023.
• Approximately 32,000 people died in crashes involving distracted drivers (2014-2023)
• Cell phones are the most significant contributor to a driver’s inattention to their vehicle, other vehicles on the road, and more.
• The best advice is to turn your phone off and put it out of reach while you are driving. If you need it, pull off the road to unpack it and get it out.

Best practice: Stay focused on the road and avoid any activity that takes your hands, eyes, or mind off driving.

Speeding

In 2023, speeding killed 11,775 people (NHTSA).

“For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2023, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities.” (NHTSA)

The probability of serious injury, or even death, increases with impacts at higher speeds, doubling for every 10 MPH over 50 MPH a vehicle travels.

Slow down: Follow speed limits and adjust your driving to suit weather and road conditions.

Drowsy driving

• Being fatigued while driving can be as dangerous as driving impaired (under the influence of alcohol).
• Fatigue can lead to slower reaction times, experiencing microsleep episodes, and poor decision-making.
• Best practice: always get the recommended amount of sleep before driving.
• In 2023, there were 633 deaths from dowsy-diving-related crashes.

Stay alert: Get adequate rest before driving to ensure your safety and the safety of others.

Reckless Driving & Road Rage

Reckless driving includes things such as tailgating, cutting off other drivers, weaving in and out of traffic, and making sudden lane changes.

Road rage is a “fit of violent anger by the driver of an automobile, especially one directed toward and endangering other motorists or pedestrians.” It may include swerving in front of another vehicle, stopping abruptly, blocking other vehicles from passing, or purposely making contact with another vehicle.

Avoid aggressive driving: Stay calm, courteous, and focused on the road. It can easily graduate into road rage.

Wearing a seat belt

Seat belts are life-saving devices:

According to NHTSA, seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017.

Seat belts save lives and should be worn whether in the front seat or back. Do not rely on air bags alone. They will not protect you unless you are wearing a proper restraint. The force of an airbag can cause severe injuries when not secured by a seat belt.

Make it a habit to buckle up, whether you are in the front or back seat.

Other risky driving behaviors

Additional dangerous habits include:

• Failing to yield or give the right of way.
• Running red lights / failing to obey traffic control devices.
• Not driving for the weather.
• Failing to maintain your vehicle.
• Following too closely.
• Improper turning and/or passing improperly.
• Loose cargo in the vehicle

Any of these dangerous driving behaviors can contribute to an accident. Know whether you are engaging in unsafe driving behaviors.

---

NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE? WE are here to HELP.

CALL NASH & FRANCISKATO FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CASE REVIEW

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in which you suffered serious injuries due to risky, unsafe driving behaviors, having a knowledgeable attorney who is your advocate can offer you peace of mind during your recovery. Call Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600.

One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case.

START YOUR FREE CASE REVIEW TODAY

JUST WANT TO STAY UP-TO-DATE?
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER

If you would like to receive news and blog updates regularly, sign up to receive our email newsletter. Your email address will only be used to send you our newsletter and respond to inquiries.

SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER

RESOURCES FOR YOU

• Find related blog articles: Automobile Accidents or Personal Injury
• CDC Transportation Safety

---

Past results afford no guarantee of future results, and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on September 18, 2023. It was reviewed for content and accuracy on April 1, 2025. Statistics updated as of 12/17/25.

Photo Credits:

• terovesalainen(Tero Vesalainen) – Image File – via depositphotos.com
• Kryzhov(Kyrylo Ryzhov) – Image File – via depositphotos.com
• HayDmitriy(Dmitriy Hay) – Image File – via depositphotos.com
• Wavebreakmedia(Sean Prior) – Image File – via depositphotos.com