We Americans love our cars. We associate cars with freedom, independence and individualism. And we rely on our cars almost every day. In fact, we practically live in them. Indeed, the average American now spends approximately 1 ½ hours each day in his or her car.
But the road has changed dramatically over the past few decades. The well loved image of the open road has been replaced with the reality of congestion, construction, distractions, road rage and ever larger vehicles. That’s why the right attitude and understanding of driving conditions is more important than ever.
What has changed?
The number of vehicles. In the 1950’s there were 59 million registered vehicles on the road. In 2005 there were 226 million registered vehicles on US roads. If you think the roads are congested now, just wait. By the year 2030 the number of vehicles is projected to increase 46% to 330 million vehicles.
The volume of trucks. According to the American Trucking Association, there will be one million more trucks on US roads by the year 2016, up from 2.7 million trucks on the road in 2006. While people often blame truck drivers for car-truck accidents, multiple studies show that the overwhelming majority (65-85%) of accidents involving trucks are caused by passenger vehicles.
The amount of construction. Experts agree that our nation’s roads are wearing out due to age and the increased volume of traffic. Construction and work zones are necessary to maintain, improve and expand roads, so expect work zones to be a more common part of the driving landscape.
The driving public. As Americans live longer they are also keeping their car keys longer. The number of drivers age 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2030 to 70 million drivers and will represent 25% of the driving public. Seniors often face challenges such as diminished perception and longer reaction time which increase the likelihood of accidents for seniors and require other drivers to be more alert.
The fast-paced lifestyle. In a recent study, 73% of drivers surveyed admitted that they talk on the cell phone while driving and 84% admitted to speeding. Many drivers also conduct everyday activities such as reading the newspaper, text messaging and shaving behind the wheel. In fact, driver distraction has been blamed for up to 80% of crashes and may be negating improved auto safety standards.
What is the true cost of these changing conditions?
Deaths and injuries. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for all Americans age 4 to 34, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each year approximately 43,000 Americans lose their lives in traffic crashes. An additional 2.7 million are seriously injured.
Economic Costs. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety estimates that the economic costs of motor vehicle crashes top $230 billion each year which translates into a crash tax of $792 per American citizen.
Teen Specific Data. Sixteen year-old drivers are 20 times more likely to have a car accident than the general public. In the first year of driving, almost half of all teens will have a car accident. In fact, driving is the # 1 killer of teens in America. Each year approximately 6,000 teenagers lose their lives and over 300,000 are injured in car accidents.
It’s time to change the odds for teenagers by changing the way we teach them to drive. Comprehensive, state-of-the-art driver training as well as guidance and support for families can ensure that new drivers will have the skills, strategy and experience needed to survive on today’s roads.
Tags: behind the wheel, driver, driver training, drivers, driving, driving school, trucking