According to a driver safety poll conducted in February 2017 by the National Safety Council, more Americans share concerns about the inherent dangers of driving than the dangers of gun violence. The survey polled 2,001 volunteers who were at least 21 years old and had an unrestricted driver’s license.
One of the questions asked was, “How concerned are you about each of the following as potential causes of injury or death for your family?” 36% of those surveyed cited driving as a major concern whereas only 34% cited gun violence as a major concern. 47% cited driving as a minor concern while 38% cited gun violence as a minor concern.
Other options included severe weather/natural disaster (27% cited this as a major concern), infectious diseases (26% cited this as a major concern), prescription pain medication (18% cited this as a major concern), and commercial airline travel (16% cited this as a major concern).
Regarding the types of traffic issues that concern those polled most, three factors came out on top: drunk drivers, distracted drivers, and drugged drivers. 78% of those polled stated that drunk drivers are a major concern while 74% stated that distracted drivers were a major concern. 67% stated that drugged drivers were a major concern.
Other options that scored lower than 67% included aggressive drivers (65%), speeding (59%), road rage (53%), tired drivers (52%), bad weather (44%), teen drivers (41%), driverless/automated cars (36%), and road maintenance (30%).
These results give us interesting insight regarding what the public likely views as dangerous and what factors may lead to accidents when behind the wheel. The fact that more individuals felt car accidents were more of a concern than gun violence is quite telling. This points to the fact that car accidents are far more frequent than acts of gun violence, but also potentially just as dangerous.
Due to the high speeds at which cars travel at on highways and interstates (and even on surface streets), it’s no secret that a serious crash can cause devastating injuries and even death. Gun violence, of course, can have devastating consequences as well, but it’s also less frequent and easier to try and avoid. Both can occur at any time without warning, but we tend to get inside of a car more often than be around someone who may have/is known to carry a gun.
The second question’s results are also telling. Every single one of the top factors polled drivers were most concerned about (drunk drivers, distracted drivers, drugged drivers, aggressive drivers, speeding, road rage, and tired drivers) are completely preventable on behalf of the driver. This points to the fact that most accidents are preventable and can be avoided if every driver is responsible, alert, and follows the laws of traffic.
If you or someone you love was injured in a serious car crash with a driver who was not responsible and acted recklessly, carelessly, or otherwise negligent, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the guilty driver and ensure they learn how important it is to practice safe driving habits. Todd W. Burris, Lexington car accident lawyer, can help. Get in touch to learn more.
