Young millennials are worst behaved drivers, AAA survey finds

LOS ANGELES (WABC) -- A new survey released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that young millennials are the worst behaved drivers.

The report found that 88 percent of drivers between the ages of 19 and 24 had engaged in at least one risky behavior behind the wheel in the past 30 days.

AAA said the behaviors include texting while driving, running red lights and speeding.

"Alarmingly, some of the drivers between ages 19-24 believe that their dangerous driving behavior is acceptable," said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "It's critical that these drivers understand the potentially deadly consequences of engaging in these types of behaviors and that they change their behavior and attitudes in order to reverse the growing number of fatalities on U.S. roads."

The age group was found to be 1.6 times more likely to read a text message or email while driving, and nearly twice as likely to have sent a text or email while driving. The survey said young millennials were 1.4 times more likely to have driven 10 mph over the speed limit on a residential street.

Of the young millennials surveyed, 50 percent reported driving through a light that had just turned red when they could have stopped safely, compared to 36 percent of all drivers.

The following are the rankings of age groups who reported at least one risky behavior behind the wheel in the past 30 days:

- Ages 19-24: 88 percent

- Ages 25-39: 79 percent

- Ages 40-59: 75 percent

- Ages 16-18: 69 percent

- Ages 75+: 69 percent

- Ages 60-74: 67 percent

You can see AAA's full report here.