A Look at Driving in 2026

Late last year the side-by-side insurance pricing website, Compare the Market did a study of bad driving. The survey found most of us having a high opinion of our driving skills. We’re so skilled at driving — in our own minds, at least — that three-quarters of those responding admit to once in awhile driving in ways, and with behaviors, that are downright dangerous.

Compare the Market Executive General Manager Adrian Taylor said one of the biggest dangers is using mobile phones while driving. Data from the World Health Organization shows drivers using phones while driving are four times more likely to be in an auto crash than those that don’t.

“Using your phone for hands-free navigation or phone calls is ok, but it’s imperative that drivers avoid any illegal use of the phone,” he said. “It’s distracting and dangerous, and could leave you footing the bill yourself if your insurer refuses to pay because you knowingly did the wrong thing.”

Here’s what those in the survey admit to doing that is dangerous:

• Eating and drinking while driving — yet, 58.2% admit to that
• Driving over the speed limit — but 47% admit to speeding
• Driving while tired — 41.4% say they drive while tired
• Sending or receiving text messages — 26.8% admit to doing that while driving
• Reaching for something in the back seat — 25.4% admit to doing this
• Driving without a seatbelt — 21.1% admit to driving without a seatbelt
• Taking photos or videos while driving — 16.7% admit doing this while driving
• Running a red light — 15.7% admit to running them
• Run stop signs — 15.5% admit doing this
• Using social media — 11% admit doing this while driving

According to AAA, even though many of us are exhibiting dangerous driving habits, we seem to want tougher driving standards. This is especially true when it comes to impaired driving.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) said in 2024 — that last year for fatality totals — just over 39,000 people died in traffic crashes. That’s down just a bit from 2023.

Here are some statistics from the study:

• 67% want all new vehicles to have technology to prevent driving by alcohol-impairment tests
• 51% want the legal limit for blood alcohol content to drop to 0.05 from 0.08

While this is what the survey found, it also found people are fairly hypocritical about practicing what they preach:

• 93% say driving after drinking is very or extremely dangerous
• Yet 7% say they have done so in the last 30 days
• 70% say driving within an hour of using marijuana is very or extremely dangerous
• Yet 6% admit to do so

These are troubling statistics according to AAA President and CEO Gene Boehm.

“These findings show that the public is ready for stronger action,” Boehm said. “People overwhelmingly want policies and technologies that prevent impaired driving, and those tools already exist. Implementing policies like the HALT Drunk Driving Law, alongside fair and effective enforcement, could save thousands of lives each year.” 

The survey also looked at distracted driving and aggressive driving and speeding:

• 97% say checking social media is very or extremely dangerous
• 94% say texting and email is very or extremely dangerous
• 90% say reading on a hand-held phone is very or extremely dangerous
• Yet, 28% texted while driving
• Yet, 37% read messages while driving
• Yet, 36% talked on a hand-held phone while driving
• 79% support a ban on talking on hand-held phones
• Just 40% want to limit hands-free use

When it comes to aggressive driving:

• 90% view aggressive driving as extremely or very dangerous
• 80% view running red lights as extremely or very dangerous
• 58% think they should be caught driving 15mph over the speed limit
• Yet, over half have done so in the last 30 days
• Just 46% support speed cameras on residential streets

Source link: PropertyCasualty360.com — https://bit.ly/3L0jJjS

Source link: AAA — https://bit.ly/4aOt09a