Dangerous driving and road rage remain a growing concern on America’s roads

On By Pranco

Nearly half of Americans believe driving has become more dangerous since the pandemic, and data appears to support these fears. A new Pew Research Center study highlights troubling trends in distracted driving, speeding, reckless behavior and road rage across the country, revealing the challenges of ensuring road safety in an evolving landscape.

Motor vehicle fatalities remain high

In 2022, more than 46,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S., an age-adjusted rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people. While this represents a slight decrease from 2021, it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019, when the rate was 11.5 per 100,000. States like Arizona and New Mexico saw the sharpest increase in fatal crashes since 2019, underscoring regional disparities in road safety.

Distracted driving: an ongoing problem

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving was responsible for 11% of all traffic accidents in 2022. Cell phone use played a significant role in 12.1% of distraction-related fatalities. Public concern is widespread, with 78% of Americans considering cell phone distractions to be a major problem in their community.

Despite these concerns, the overall number of distraction-related crashes involving injuries or property damage has decreased since 2019, likely due to reduced traffic during the pandemic years.

Reckless driving and excessive speed persist

Speeding remains a leading cause of fatal crashes, contributing to 27.8% of such incidents in 2022, up from 25.8% in 2019. The number of hit-and-run incidents is also increasing and now accounts for 7.3 % of fatal accidents.

Although reckless behaviors such as tailgating and improper lane changes are difficult to measure comprehensively, they contribute significantly to the perception of deteriorating driving habits.

Drunk driving is increasing alarmingly

DUI fatalities increased during the pandemic and remain alarmingly high. In 2022, 31.3% of fatal crashes involved at least one driver with an alcohol problem, reversing a decade-long decline. These accidents resulted in more than 13,500 deaths, the highest number since 2008.

Road rage escalates, often with deadly consequences

Traffic incidents involving firearms have become particularly concerning. Data from the Gun Violence Archive shows that while the number of such incidents peaked in 2019, fatalities and injuries have increased since the pandemic. In 2022 alone, 148 people were killed and 421 injured in traffic accidents involving firearms. This year, 116 people have been killed in similar incidents since October, suggesting this deadly trend is continuing.

The way forward

As Americans continue to deal with changing traffic patterns and driving behaviors, addressing these safety challenges will require a multifaceted approach. From stricter enforcement of distracted driving laws to tackling the root causes of road rage and reckless driving, policymakers and communities must work together to make roads safer for everyone.