Car accidents are a very common occurrence. In the United States alone, 300 people die every day from car accidents and more than 2 million are injured. Not only do these accidents cause a great deal of human suffering but they also have a significant economic impact on our society as well.
It is estimated that in 2010, Americans spent $230 billion because of car crashes, and another $100 billion was lost due to disability costs and other factors such as health care expenses for victims of car crashes. These numbers should be enough to convince anyone how important it is to reduce the number of car accidents happening each year.
In order for that to happen, one needs to figure out what the main cause of accidents is. Find out below
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the main causes of car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10% of all fatal crashes, 15% of injury crashes, and 14% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
Driving while distracted can lead to a number of dangers that can affect you and those around you. While some distractions such as eating or talking on the phone may seem harmless, they can easily cause a driver to lose focus on what is going on around him. Other types of distracted driving include texting, using GPS devices, and watching videos while driving.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is also one of the main causes of car accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2010 alone, 10,228 people died because of car crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol content level above 0.08% or 694,000 people were injured due to that same reason.
Drunk driving is a very serious issue that needs to be dealt with more seriously. If you’ve been involved in an accident because the other driver was drunk, booking an appointment with a lawyer should be your next step. Attorneys at https://bayoucitylaw.com/ note that getting a lawyer who has experience in these types of cases would be a good option. Do not attempt to fight for your right on your own. Have someone with experience fight on your behalf.
Not Wearing Seat Belts
Another main cause of car accidents is the failure of drivers and passengers to wear seat belts. According to the CDC, wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury for front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%.
One should always make sure that they buckle up anytime they get into their vehicle. Seat belts are important when driving, but they are even more important when you are a passenger in a vehicle. Not only is it the law in most countries for people to wear seat belts but it can also save their own life.
Speeding
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 32% of all traffic fatalities in 2010 were speed-related and only 20% were related to drunk driving.
The more you drive over the speed limit, the higher your chances of getting into an accident will be. Speeding is not only dangerous but it can also affect the lives of others around you.
Driving at Night
Driving during the night is another main cause of car accidents. According to the NHTSA, about one-third of all fatal crashes happen between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Even though there are fewer vehicles on the road at this time, it does not mean that they are less dangerous. For example, in 2010, 44% of all fatal crashes that involved a driver who was drunk happened at night.
Careless Driving
Careless driving is next on the list of things that causes car accidents. According to the NHTSA, failure to yield right-of-way was found to be one of the most common factors in traffic fatalities where victims were not wearing seat belts. In 2010, 56% of people who were killed because they forgot to yield the right-of-way were going straight.
Driving requires a person’s full attention and carelessness can lead to a number of accidents. A driver should always make sure that he or she is paying close attention when behind the wheel as a simple distraction can be the cause of significant damage.
It is very important for you to be aware of all of the main causes of car accidents because if you know this, you will make sure that it doesn’t happen to you or anyone else. A driver should always do his or her best not to engage in any form of distracted driving as well as never drive while intoxicated. Lastly, one should always focus on the road and pay close attention to what is going on around them as well as make sure that they abide by all of the rules and regulations of the road.
