Most Common Car Accident Causes
Millions of car accidents are reported worldwide, resulting in fatal and non-fatal injuries that turn people’s worlds upside down. While the circumstances for all accidents are different, there can sometimes be common factors shared by many of them. By being aware of the most common car accident causes, you might be in a desirable position to avoid them and keep yourself safe on the road.
Distracted Driving
If you visit this website, you’ll see written and video testimonials from people who have been involved in car accidents due to distracted drivers and other factors. Distracted driving is now one of the leading causes of car accidents, with the NHTSA stating that it claimed the lives of more than 3,500 people in 2020 alone.
Distracted driving is essentially anything that can take a driver’s attention away from driving, such as texting or talking on a mobile device, talking with people in the vehicle, eating, and using the stereo or radio. When your eyes aren’t on the road, there can be an increased risk of accidents that might have otherwise been avoided.
Speeding
While speeding tickets can often be a deterrent for people thinking about speeding, many drivers still travel above the speed limit and pay the ultimate price. Speeding remains one of the leading car accident causes, with it playing a part in 29% of traffic fatalities in 2021.
In 2021, more than 12,000 people died in accidents in which speed was seen as a factor. 2021 was also the third consecutive year with a speeding-related accident increase, with fatalities up 7.9% from the previous year. Whether you’re running late to work or have a meeting you don’t want to miss, it can be better to be late than not arrive at all.
Fatigue
Being tired might not seem like a reasonable excuse to avoid getting behind the wheel, but it can be. Fatigue can impact how you respond or react on the road, potentially putting you at risk of being involved in an accident. According to the NHTSA, nearly 700 fatalities involved drowsy drivers in 2019, and fatigue-related accidents cost society $109 billion annually.
Drunk Driving
Having a few drinks with friends before driving home might not seem like a big deal, but it can be a fatal decision. Alcohol slows your reactions, dulls your judgment and vision, and impairs your overall driving ability. According to the NHTSA, more than 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers, with more than 10,000 people losing their lives in drunk-driving accidents annually.
Adverse Weather Conditions
Poor decision-making can lead to serious road accidents, but we aren’t always to blame for collisions and fatalities. Sometimes, adverse weather conditions can play a part. Ice, snow, rain, wind, and even fog, can all create challenging driving conditions that even the most skilled drivers can struggle with.
Every accident is different, which means there can be various factors and causes at play. However, knowing that speeding, drunk driving, fatigue, and distractions are among the most common, you might be more inclined to adjust your driving behaviors to try and keep yourself and other road users as safe as possible.
