National and local statistics indicate that the top ten driving situations that create enormous risk include:
1. Inattentiveness- Driver inattention or distraction is the most common contributing factor in multiple vehicle crashes for all age groups.
2. Excessive speed- Illegal / unsafe speed is the most common contributing factor in single vehicle crashes for drivers between 15 and 64 years of age.
3. Failure to wear seat belt / safety belt- Safety belts reduce your chances of death or serious injury by almost 50%, yet 20% of Minnesotans still choose not to buckle-up.
4. Alcohol and other drug use
5. Multiple passengers- With the addition of each passenger, the likelihood of a crash increases. For teen drivers, one teen passenger increases crash risk by 39%, two passengers increase risk by 86% and three passengers by nearly 200%.
6. Fatigue and emotional state- A person who has been awake for 24 hours causes impairment nearly equal to a blood alcohol concentration of .10, which is above the legal limit.
7. Not checking traffic before pulling out- According to data, most crashes involving teens occur at intersections with traffic signals or two-way stop signs.
8. Bad weather (e.g. snow, ice, rain)- Ice and snow-packed roads increase stopping distance ; snow / blowing snow decreases visibility as do rain and fog.
9. Night driving- Potential hazards are less visible at night. If you drive too fast, you can over-drive your headlights and not have enough time to stop when you realize there is a problem.
10. Inadequate defensive driving technique- For your safety, you have to anticipate what the other driver is going to do and be ready to take evasive action to protect yourself and others.