Dangerous driving habits continue to cost thousands of lives each year. In 2022 alone, 42,514 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes across the U.S., that’s one death every 12 minutes. Among the leading causes? Drunk driving, speeding, and distracted driving, which together accounted for nearly 30,000 fatalities.
And it’s not just fatal crashes. That same year, 2.3 million people were injured in traffic accidents, roughly five people hurt every minute.
At DeMayo Law Offices, we dug into recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC) to better understand how and why these habits remain so common, and what can be done to stop them.
Drunk Driving: Still the Deadliest
In 2022, 13,524 lives were lost due to alcohol-impaired driving, making up 32% of all traffic deaths. A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is considered legally impaired, but many fatal crashes involve drivers with BACs nearly double the legal limit.
Who’s most at risk?
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Motorcyclists: 28% of alcohol-related deaths
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Passenger car drivers: 25%
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Light truck/SUV drivers: 21%
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Drivers aged 25–34: 41.5% of alcohol-related deaths
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Drivers aged 35–44: 36.5%
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In North Carolina alone, 460 drunk driving deaths
Even more concerning? Over half of the surveyed drivers (53.8%) admitted they felt capable of driving after drinking, according to the American Addiction Centers.
Solutions include:
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Lowering the legal BAC to 0.05%
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Increasing sobriety checkpoints
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Expanding public education campaigns
Speeding: A Deadly Choice
Speeding was behind 12,151 deaths in 2022, 29% of all crash fatalities, or roughly 33 deaths per day.
High-risk groups include:
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Males (35% of fatal speeding crashes vs. 19% females)
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Drivers aged 15–20 and 21–24
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21% of all speeding deaths happened at night on weekends
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North Carolina saw 660 speeding-related deaths
Drivers often speed due to running late, traffic frustration, or simply thinking they won’t get caught. But with 90% of drivers admitting to speeding, the behavior is more common and dangerous than most people realize.
Reducing risk starts with:
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More speed cameras in high-risk zones
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Heavier fines and patrol enforcement
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Public awareness of the life-altering cost of speeding
Distracted Driving: A Modern-Day Epidemic
Distracted driving caused 3,308 deaths in 2022, around 11% of total traffic fatalities. From texting to fiddling with the GPS, anything that takes your attention off the road can lead to tragedy.
The three major types of distraction:
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Visual – eyes off the road
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Manual – hands off the wheel
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Cognitive – mind off driving
Young drivers are the most distracted:
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16–24 year olds have the highest hand-held phone use at 6.5%
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Nearly half of all drivers (49.5%) admit to using their phone while driving
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30 states ban hand-held device use entirely
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49 states ban texting while driving
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In North Carolina, teens and bus drivers are banned from using any phone behind the wheel
Despite growing awareness and legislation, the temptation to stay “connected” while driving hasn’t gone away. The pressure of FOMO and constant notifications puts lives at risk every day.
What can help:
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Stronger distracted driving laws
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More enforcement and visibility
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Real-world education, especially for young drivers
The Legal & Financial Aftermath
When a reckless driver causes a crash, the consequences aren’t just physical; they’re legal and financial too. If you or someone you love was hurt due to drunk driving, speeding, or distracted driving, you have legal rights.
At DeMayo Law Offices, our Charlotte-based car accident lawyers can help you pursue compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit, holding the responsible driver accountable for their choices.
