“How Risky is it? An Assessment of the Relative Risk of Engaging in Potentially Unsafe Driving Behaviors”

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted an in-depth analysis of the relationships between several specific driving behaviors and crashes, near crashes, and other driving incidents, using data collected under the NHTSA's roughly $3 million 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study. The 100-Car Study used in-vehicle cameras and "black boxes" to observe the behavior of 109 primary drivers and 132 secondary drivers over roughly a one-year period, providing insight into driver behaviors and actions both at the times of crashes and during "ordinary driving," thus enabling the estimation of the impacts of specific behaviors on crash risk.

The results of this study, which will soon be released, will contribute to our knowledge of the contribution of various risky driving behaviors and crashes, help inform future research and interventions aimed at reducing risky driving behaviors, and demonstrate the value of studies of driving in a naturalistic environment as was done in the 100-Car Study.

Note: There were no injuries in this crash. Fortunately, the driver and both passengers in the minivan had their safety belts on!