Seat Belt Use

Despite decades of public information campaigns, laws, policies, and efforts of government and non-government organizations, more than half of the people who die in vehicle crashes annually were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The benefits of buckling up are clear: it helps keep a driver or vehicle occupant safe and securely inside a vehicle and reduces serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half.

Aggressive driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as “The operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger other persons or property” which can include a number of different moving traffic offenses.¹ Although the tendency is to focus on speeding, all forms of aggressive driving threaten safety on the roadways.

Speeding

Properly set speed limits provide a safe, consistent, and reasonable speed to protect drivers, roadway workers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Speed limits frame expectations for drivers and other roadway users. To determine speed limits, the amount of vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic is considered. Also considered are the physical conditions of the road such as sidewalks, hills, curves, lanes, driveways, intersections, roadway surfaces and traffic controls. To learn more about how roadway speed limits are determined, visit the U.S.

Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving or fatigued driving is another extension of distracted driving and is comparable to impaired driving. Drowsy driving occurs when a person operates a motor vehicle when too fatigued or sleepy to stay alert, making the driver less aware of their surroundings. After 17 consecutive hours awake, impairment is estimated to be equivalent to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .05 and after 24 hours awake, impairment is estimated to be equivalent to a BAC of .10.¹ A survey of the U.S.

Impaired Driving

A driver cannot operate a motor vehicle safely if they are impaired. That is why it is illegal everywhere in the U.S. to drive under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, methamphetamines, or any other impairing drug that is prescribed or obtained over the counter. Driving while impaired by any substance, legal or illegal, puts the driver and others in harm’s way.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving occurs when a vehicle driver takes their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving safely. Any non-driving activity the driver engages in is a potential distraction and increases their risk of being involved in a motor vehicle collision. Employees in many industries and occupations spend all or part of their workday on the road.

Distractions fall into three primary categories: visual, manual, and cognitive.