Drivers are unaware of the behaviors that cause car accidents

That early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates a decrease in deaths in car accidents, a recent study de Arity reveals a troubling trend: Drivers remain largely unaware of common behaviors known to cause accidents, such as speeding and heavy braking. Despite infrastructure improvements and stricter vehicle standards, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding the risks associated with these behaviors.

Gary Hallgren, president of Arity, believes that closing this gap is critical to preventing accidents and lowering insurance premiums. In this Q&A, Gary shares insight into driver misconceptions, the critical role of individual responsibility in road safety, and how technology and data analytics can drive positive changes in driving habits.

Q: Can you elaborate on the knowledge gap between driving behaviors and their association with accidents? What specific misconceptions do drivers have?

A: Most US drivers would say that distractions such as texting and driving or driving under the influence are the leading causes of car accidents, but that is not entirely the case. The knowledge gap that exists between drivers and the driving behaviors that cause crashes is largely due to a lack of awareness of how certain behaviors directly contribute to the risk of crashes.

For example, let’s say you’re driving on a busy highway and you see a car zig-zagging through traffic. You might be thinking, “that car is crazy.” So what makes that car so dangerous? It accelerates, brakes hard and accelerates repeatedly. However, in a study conducted recently by Arity, nearly half of US drivers do not consider hard braking (38%) and speeding (42%) to be dangerous behavior, even ranking rapid acceleration (28%) as the least dangerous.

This is likely because drivers underestimate the impact of these behaviors, so much so that a common misconception is that these behaviors are only dangerous in specific conditions, such as bad weather. However, in our normal day-to-day lives, these behaviors can significantly increase the chances of an accident by reducing reaction time and vehicle control, which is why it is so important for drivers to understand and reduce this gap.

Q: Despite improvements in infrastructure and vehicle standards, why do you think drivers are still less concerned about behaviors such as speeding, hard braking and quick acceleration?

A: In small doses, these are behaviors that we all exhibit at any time when we drive, especially if we live in a city or urban area. However, modern infrastructure and new vehicle standards have created a false sense of security among drivers. I believe this has led the average driver to dismiss these behaviors as dangerous because they believe that these safety features and infrastructure will compensate for actions such as speeding, hard braking, and rapid acceleration. This is not always the case, which is why accidents still tend to occur despite these improvements.

Q: Arity found that 79% of drivers believe individual responsibility is crucial to road safety. What steps can individual drivers take to bridge the knowledge gap and adopt safer driving habits?

A: The biggest piece of advice for individual drivers looking to bridge this knowledge gap and become safer is to educate themselves and act on that education.

Once we pass our driving test and get our driver’s license, learning about driving often ends there. Arity’s report also found that 59% of US drivers say improving driver education would have the biggest impact on safety – so why aren’t we as drivers making the effort to keep learning?

Drivers need to become more educated about the risks associated with different driving behaviors and become more aware of their driving habits, especially speeding, hard braking and acceleration. Using technology is a good place to start. For example, drivers can enroll in safe driving insurance programs. It is also beneficial to enroll in a defensive driving course or training to stay current on safe driving practices. Overall, being an active participant in your safety behind the wheel and the safety of others on the road is essential to bridging the knowledge gap between common and dangerous driving behaviors.

As a data-driven company, Arity uses insights to shape products and drive industry change. We are committed to fostering collaboration across the transport sector to build safer roads. By harnessing driving data, we can identify high-risk areas, guide specific safety initiatives and educate stakeholders about their critical roles in improving road safety.

Q: How can technology and data analytics promote safer driving behaviors?

A: Technology and data analytics can promote safe driving by providing real-time feedback through programs that monitor driving behaviors. Predictive analytics can also forecast the likelihood of a crash based on past and current behaviors, highlighting areas where drivers need to focus on improving their education and behavior. Overall, the technology is crucial in analyzing patterns in driving data to identify risky behaviors and thus help prevent future accidents.

Q: Insurance premiums are often a concern for drivers. How can better driving behavior, influenced by increased awareness and education, lead to lower insurance costs?

A: Better driving behaviors directly correlate to a reduced risk of accidents, which in turn can lower insurance costs. Most insurance companies use telematics data to assess these driving habits. Participation in these programs is completely voluntary for drivers, and usually those who sign up are already relatively safe drivers. An unsafe driver probably wouldn’t sign up for a program that penalizes bad driving behavior. However, they could be incentivized to improve their behavior through a usage-based program if it could lead to a decrease in their overall rates.

By adopting these programs and therefore safer behaviors, drivers not only reduce their risk of being involved in accidents, but also demonstrate to insurers that they are a low-risk customer, leading to favorable rates.