According to a recent survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers across the country do not always practice what they preach when it comes to safety on our roads and highways.
The survey found, for example, that over 90 percent of drivers surveyed said driving while under the influence of alcohol was dangerous. Even so, 7 percent of those surveyed admitted to doing it anyway within the prior month.
The statistics were arguably more disturbing when it came to attitudes about using phones or other electronic devices while driving. Over 90 percent agreed social media use, texting or emailing or reading messages were at least “very dangerous” behaviors.
Even so, 28 percent of drivers acknowledged texting and driving while 37 percent of those surveyed admitted that they had read a text or email while driving. On a related note, 36 percent said they had used a hand-held phone to talk while driving.
Drivers were a bit more consistent when it came to traveling over the speed limit. About half of those drivers asked admitted to going at least 15 miles per hour over a posted speed limit recently, but many drivers also did not see speeding as a dangerous driving behavior.
Maryland drivers can be held accountable for their unsafe behaviors
No matter how people feel about speeding, distracted driving and driving under the influence, the reality is that these bad habits can and too often do cause serious or catastrophic motor vehicle accidents.
Victims of drivers who choose to ignore obvious safety concerns for whatever reason have every right to seek compensation from those drivers after an accident. Accident victims in the Baltimore area should understand both their legal options and the remedies available to them.