When many motorists picture millennial drivers, they envision inexperienced young people texting, talking on the phone and otherwise engaging in dangerous driving behaviors. Is this reputation accurate, though, or are young drivers getting an unfair rap?
Per USA Today, many of today’s young drivers are admittedly engaging in potentially dangerous practices from behind the wheel, and many of these actions endanger you and anyone else in a driver’s path.
Millennial motorists, by the numbers
In one recent survey involving 2,511 millennial motorists, about 12 percent of those surveyed reported that they felt it was acceptable to travel at least 10 mph over the posted limit within a school zone. As for drivers across all age groups, less than 5 percent shared this sentiment.
Millennial drivers are also taking unnecessary risks at red lights. In fact, nearly half of all millennial drivers reported running red lights even though they could have stopped easily. Meanwhile, about 36 percent of drivers across all age groups reported the same. As you might imagine, millennial drivers are also taking needless risks when it comes to texting and emailing one another while driving. In fact, this age group admits to sending texts and electronic communications twice as often as motorists across other age groups.
A hypocritical stance
Interestingly, many of the millennial drivers who admitted to engaging in dangerous driving behaviors behind the wheel also reported that they were aware that such actions were highly dangerous. For example, nearly 80 percent of millennial drivers felt reading texts or emails while driving was “unacceptable,” and yet more than 40 percent acknowledged doing exactly that within the last month.
Regrettably, it appears millennial drivers have earned their bad reputation. A behavioral shift is necessary to enhance safety for everyone traveling America’s roads.
