The 87%: Drinking and Driving is Only a Part of Road Risks

Drinking and driving is one of the most preventable crimes out there. All it takes to prevent it is to find a safe ride home or stay put until one sobers up. Yet each day there are drunk drivers on roads across the country, disregarding the damage they could cause. Drinking and driving is a choice, one that can end in disaster.

Unfortunately, drinking and driving is not the only bad choice drivers make on the roads. Texting while driving is just as dangerous a habit. Drowsy driving is right up there, too, along with other distractions in the vehicle while it is in motion. AAA recently revealed that 87% of drivers on the road admitted to dangerous driving behaviors, which means that pretty much everyone is guilty.

So, let us just refresh our memories with common sense safe driving tips:

• Don’t drink and drive.
• Don’t text and drive.
• Eliminate all other distractions while driving.
• Don.t drive if you are overtired.
• Buckle up your seatbelt.
• Follow the rules of the road (speed limits, stoplights, etc.)

A couple of these driving offenses can be prevented by technology. Your car can keep you from starting till you buckle your seatbelt – or at least annoy you until you do so – and an ignition interlock can prevent drinking and driving. Unfortunately, for the other dangerous habits there’s no electronic savior. All we can do is rely on drivers making a good choice.

At the end of the day, you want to be safe at home – and so does everyone else. By choosing to drive safely, we are all making the right choice for ourselves, as well as others on the road. Considering that nine out of ten cars on the road could be doing something risky while driving, it isn’t a lot to ask for everyone to settle down and pledge to keep it safe on the streets.

So – will you be part of the 13 percent who follow the above tips and do the right thing? If you agree to, you’ll be helping that minority grow in size.