Since 2020, traffic safety authorities in Virginia have seen increasing trends in hazardous driving. Although public awareness of dangerous driving is increasing, the trends do not seem to be decreasing by the end of each year. According to surveys, the majority of drivers are engaging in a number of risky behaviors on the road.
Speeding
The most noticeable trend on Virginia roads is driving over the speed limit. Most drivers admit to this action, according to a recent survey administered by the Governor’s Executive Leadership Team on Highway Safety. At least 96% of participants said that they speed often while 43% admitted to speeding during most of their driving.
The result of this survey shows that speeding causes thousands of auto accidents, leading to hundreds of fatalities each year. Since 2010, speed has been the leading cause of many fatal crashes on U.S. roads and highways, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Other risk factors
The NHTSA reported a decrease in the amount of road traffic midway through 2020. At the same time, the number of fatalities increased. Other major contributors to auto accidents include driving while distracted, failing to wear seat belts and driving while under the influence. The most common acts of distracted driving are texting, eating, talking on the phone and changing the radio while operating a vehicle.
Speeding and other recent habits
Whenever the rates of fatal auto accidents increase, driving trends are carefully reevaluated. In 2020, researchers saw a higher number of accidents throughout Virginia and the U.S., even though fewer vehicles were driven on the roads. Speeding and distracted driving are the two most common reasons for this increase.