Gas is cheap. The economy is doing better. And, that means we are driving more often.

And, we’re probably driving more sloppily. Which is why last year, some 40,000 of us perished in auto crashes. After years of declining deaths, the trend has been reversed. Oh, sure, folks said the improving crash data was a result of better, safer cars. But, given last year’s data, I would venture that we’ve once again used correlation and not causation to reach (bad) conclusions.

After all, the number of deaths last year rose 6 percent. Yet, the data indicate that we only drove 3% more miles last year. Hmm. Moreover, some 4.6 million folks received medical treatment due to crashes last year- a 7% increase from the year before.

Those data exist despite the fact that each year, the cars we drive get safer. (Also, we use seat belts more often; that statistic is improving besides the better designed air bags, electronic warnings, cameras, antilock brakes, and stability controls that are built in to our cars.)

So, why, this change?

Let’s consider the data a little more carefully. How about the fact that there is a 20% increase in fatalities in just 7 states- New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Alabama, Kansas, and New Hampshire. And, a 10% decline in deaths in Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska. (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Washington also experienced drops in their fatality rates- but not that 10% drop or so.)  So, this increase seems more related to drivers in just 7 states.  More study is needed to determine what is driving these drivers to create such dangerous conditions.  (Pun – and concern- intended!)

But, part of the problem may also be that it’s not the (total) mileage we drive- but the trips we take to unfamiliar places, plus our weekend outings.

What it’s probably not due to is teenage driving. As I’ve reported before (each word links to a separate blog post) teens with multiple passengers present real problems. Yet, over the years, the numbers of teens rushing to get their licenses have dropped . (It seems seniors are turning them in, too- not because they can’t drive, but because they don’t need cars as they move to urban environments.)
No, the problem seems this may be related to “yesterday’s” teenagers- the millennials (aged 19 to 24). A new survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found some very disturbing trends.

It seems that millennials are most likely (of all the age groups) to run a red light- even if they could have stopped. Or, that they routinely exceed the posted speed limit by at least 10 mph- or have consumed marijuana before driving. And, let’s not forget the modern scourge- they are very likely to send or read a text while behind the wheel.

How frequently did the millennials engage is these dangerous behaviors? 88% of them admitted they’ve sped, texted, or ran a red light in the past 30 days. (Only 7% admitted to marijuana use and driving, though.) But, don’t absolve teens from being involved in such risky driving process- because 69% of them (16 to 18 y of age) were so engaged in the last 30 days.

Guess what? They all admitted to zoom through school zones, too!

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