Top Causes of Road Accidents That You Need to Be Aware Of

For many car owners, involvement in a vehicular accident can be a distressing point in life and the ultimate goal of any vehicle is to serve its occupants safely, without causing casualties or accidents. However, there are times that vehicles malfunction and thus cause road accidents. Given below are the top causes of road accidents that you need to be aware of.

1) Reckless driving

Reckless driving includes speeding, cutting off other drivers, passing on the shoulder of the road and ignoring traffic signs. It is estimated that 1 in 5 vehicular crashes result from reckless driving. According to car accident lawyers based in West Hartford, reckless driving is a form of negligence and makes the reckless or negligent drivers liable for the damages or injuries they cause during an accident. If you drive 40 mph or faster over the speed limit, your chances of getting into a serious automobile accident increase by 50%. Reckless driving also includes ignoring stop signs or traffic lights, which is responsible for nearly 1/5 of all crashes. If you get involved in a vehicular accident and believe that it is caused by the other driver’s negligence, you can file a claim to seek fair, just, and reasonable compensation for the damages you sustained.

2) Human error

Human errors take up 95% of all collisions; therefore it is advisable to be aware of the main causes that lead to these errors. These include distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fatigue, drowsiness, and not wearing a seatbelt.

Distracted driving

In 2013, it was estimated that 23% of all automobile crashes in the US every year were caused by drivers who had been texting or otherwise distracted by a personal electronic device. Texting while driving is one of the most common types of distracted driving and is among the leading causes of vehicular accidents. A driver’s eyes are away from the road for an average of 4.6 out of 6 seconds while typing a text message, which is enough time to cover the length of a football field at 55 mph without looking where you are going.

Also, research has shown that drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. Hands-free phones are no safer than hand-held phones because the distraction comes from the conversation, not the device. All of this information supports recent research finding that a person is 23 times more likely to crash while texting and driving than during non-distracted driving.

Speeding

Speeding takes up approximately 1/3 of all vehicular fatalities, causing more than 10,000 deaths every year. Speeding makes any crash more likely and more severe. In 2010, 33% of all crash fatalities occurred because the driver was speeding.

Driving under the influence

It was estimated that 1 in 3 Americans has driven after drinking alcohol within the past month. Driving while intoxicated is a common driving mistake that takes up to 12% of automobile collisions resulting in serious injury or death. In 2010, 33% of the fatal crashes involved a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08 or higher. Also, in that same year, more than 10% of fatally injured drivers had a blood drug concentration level indicating high recent use of one or more drugs. The percentage was higher among drivers under 21 (17%). In 2013, 10,076 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

Fatigue and drowsiness

It is estimated that 20% of all fatal car accidents are caused by tired drivers. Also, drowsiness is often an overlooked cause for vehicular crashes, but it causes 1 in 6 serious automobile accidents every year. The NHTSA estimated that in 2009, 1.4% percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes were on the road while sleepy. This is an especially critical problem among commercial truck drivers who are more likely to drive when drowsy.

Not using a seatbelt

This is responsible for nearly half of all fatalities resulting from car accidents. In 2013, nearly half (48%) of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were unrestrained at the time of the crash. Of those who survived high-risk crashes—drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher, speeders, and those involved in frontal impacts—50% or more were unrestrained.

3) Vehicle malfunction

Vehicles are complex machines that are susceptible to many different malfunctions. Some of the common forms of vehicle malfunction include the following:

• Brake failure – Brake failure is responsible for 34% of all vehicular crashes. This high number can be attributed to the fact that brake failure often occurs without warning, leading to a sudden lurch forward or stop which can lead to a car crash.
• Tire blowout – It is estimated that 5% of all vehicular accidents are caused by tire blowouts. Tires on the road which have lost their treads or show signs of wear and tear can be difficult to deal with, making them dangerous for both drivers and other vehicles on the road.
• Sudden loss of power – Sudden loss of power is another common cause for vehicular accidents, as it can lead to a sudden lurch forward or stop.
• Engine failure – Engine failure takes up 8% of all crashes and it can involve other parts of the vehicle malfunctioning as well, such as the brakes not working properly.

4) Weather conditions

Weather conditions are unpredictable and thus they increase the chances of an accident by 5 times. Heavy rain, snow, or fog can reduce visibility, making the road conditions more dangerous for drivers. If you drive in heavy snow, rain, or fog it is advised to be extra cautious. A good way to deal with weather conditions is to slow down and make safe stops when it is necessary.

Apart from risky driving conditions, weather can also affect people in other ways that could lead to road accidents. Darker, cloudier, and wetter weather tends to make people more irritable and less cooperative than clear sunny days, which can lead to increased road rage incidents.

5) Unfamiliar road

The unfamiliarity of the road increases the chances of an accident by 3 times, there are many different factors that can play into this such as drivers not knowing the rules of the road or street signs being obscured by trees, etc.

Drivers should also recognize that even the best drivers in the world cannot avoid every accident. They have to be aware that road conditions are not always ideal, and therefore they need to be prepared for safety at every time. Awareness of the above factors is important in order to prevent fatalities caused by accidents on the roads.