87% of drivers admit to risky behavior on the road, AAA says

According to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, about 87 percent of drivers admitted to engaging in at least one “risky behavior” while driving in the past month.

Those behaviors can include driving while distracted, impaired, drowsy, speeding, running red lights or not wearing a seat belt.

The NHTSA’s previous research estimates distracted driving is a factor in at least 3,000 deaths per year. Drivers who take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds can double their risk of being in a crash, AAA reported.

"There is a culture of indifference for far too many drivers when it comes to road safety," said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "The vast majority of motorists believe they are more careful than others on the road, though most of them are not making safe decisions while behind the wheel. We're asking every driver to make responsible decisions to make the roads safer for everyone."

By the numbers

According to the report’s research:

-Nearly 33,000 Americans died in car crashes in 2014, estimated 9 percent increase for 2015
-1 in 3 have had a friend or relative seriously injured or killed in a crash
-1 in 5 have been involved in a crash that was serious enough for someone to go to the hospital
-70% report talking on a cell phone while driving within the past 30 days
-31% report doing talking on the phone while driving fairly often or regularly
-42% admit to reading a text message or email while driving in the past 30 days
-12% admit to reading a text message or email fairly often or regularly
-32% admit to typing or sending a text or email over the past month
-8% say they type or send a text or email fairly often or regularly

The survey data are from a sample of 2,442 licensed drivers ages 16 and older who reported driving in the past 30 days. Read more: www.AAAFoundation.org