Approximately 40,000 people are killed each year as a direct result of an automobile accident and, in fact, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death world-wide. Every sixty seconds a motor vehicle accident occurs, leading to nearly 3 million moderate to severe injuries in addition to the fatalities. You may well wonder what factors are involved in all these car accidents. The truth is that although there have been amazing improvements in the safety technology of automobiles, human error combines with other factors to end in a continuing stream of auto accidents. Some of these accidents could certainly have been avoided, since they are the result of a variety of behaviors which are commonly committed by drivers across the nation.
Speeding as a Cause of Vehicle Accidents
Despite the fact that police officers across the nation do their best to put a halt to those who engage in excessive speed, speeding continues and is a primary cause of auto accidents. Speeding is estimated to be the cause of almost one-third of all fatal auto accidents and is believed to cost society at large approximately $40 billion dollars per year. The driver who is exceeding the speed limit has reduced their ability to adjust to a curve or object in the roadway and excessive speed can be particularly dangerous in inclement weather conditions. The Institute for Highway Safety states that when a vehicle’s speed increases from 35 mph to 60 mph the energy discharged in a collision is effectively doubled. When you get behind the wheel, obey speed limits in order to make the highways safer for other drivers and yourself.
Driver Inattention or Distraction
More and more Americans spend a large portion of their time behind the wheel of their vehicle, particularly in their commute to work. Our vehicles become our home away from home, therefore drivers are more likely to be eating while driving, talking on their phone or texting, attempting to adjust their radio or GPS, talking to the passengers in their car, daydreaming, or even turning around to scold the children in the back seat. Any or all of these things can lead to accidents. An auto accident can happen in a mere split second while your attention is distracted from the road ahead or the drivers around you.
Distracted drivers are fast becoming a leading cause of the auto accidents on the road, and recent reports show that talking on a cell phone while driving can make it four times as likely that you will be involved in a car crash. Talking on the phone is the number one source of driver distraction, despite the many laws being passed regarding texting or talking on the phone while driving. When a driver slows down to look at another accident they are 16% more likely to be involved in a distracted driving accident, with fatigue being responsible for another 12%.
Driving Under the Influence
A driver who is less than twenty-one years old dies each day as a result of an alcohol-related car collision, and even though the individual states continue to increase the punishments for drunk driving, alcohol-related accidents continue to cost lives. Drivers with a BAC of higher than .15 were almost four hundred times more likely to be in a fatal, single-vehicle collision than the driver who was sober. Make sure you have a sober driver if you plan on drinking, or stay off the road.
Road Rage as a Cause of Car Accidents
Aggressive behavior in an automobile is becoming more and more common. Road rage encompasses rude hand gestures, changing lanes back and forth in an unsafe manner, tailgating in an aggressive manner, deliberately stopping another driver from passing you, refusing to yield the right-of-way, showing a complete disregard for traffic signals, or flashing your lights repeatedly at other drivers. Road rage can turn deadly very quickly, so if another person displays any of these behaviors, take it seriously and drop back to get out of their way. Drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 appear to be the most common offenders for displaying road rage, while drivers 65 or older are the least likely to engage in aggressive driving behaviors.
Exhaustion as a Cause of Auto Accidents
Finally, exhausted or drowsy drivers account for nearly a million accidents each year in the United States. Make sure you are rested before you get behind the wheel of your vehicle. Take breaks when necessary so you are not driving while drowsy and avoid taking any medicines which are known to cause fatigue. If you are the victim of a car collision, you need help, no matter what caused the accident. Seek knowledgeable legal representation through a personal injury attorney who can help you navigate the insurance issues while you focus on getting better.