Reckless driving tears lives apart in seconds, leaving victims to face a storm of pain, medical bills and lost wages. Chicago’s busy streets see far too many accidents due to careless drivers who ignore the rules of the road.
This blog explains the risks of reckless driving to help readers understand its shocking impact on innocent lives. After reading, those hurt by careless drivers can have more information if they decide to take any legal action.
The fatal consequences of reckless driving
In Chicago, 86% of traffic deaths involved reckless driving behavior. These include ignoring stop signs and red lights, wild lane switching, and speeding. Driving the wrong way and aggressive turning also contribute to traffic deaths in the city.
Disregarding traffic signs is one of the most common forms of aggressive driving. In 2023, 17% of the traffic fatalities involved a driver running a red light or ignoring a stop sign.
Moreover, 63% of the fatalities in car crashes were in the striking vehicle that caused the accident. This means the at-fault driver’s own behavior led to their own death or the death of their passenger.
Another example of egregious driving behavior is driving off after a collision. In the city, 55% of car crash deaths were the result of hit-and-run incidents.
To this day, the reasons for hit-and-run collisions are still not fully understood. Some people leave the site of the accident to escape the consequences of the crash. Meanwhile, others may not even be aware that a collision occurred due to vehicle sightlines or other distractions.
Keeping the roads safe
Reckless driving leaves a trail of destruction that extends far beyond the crash site. Its impact ripples through families, workplaces and communities. Every driver has the power to prevent these tragedies by making responsible choices behind the wheel.
