Driving a car is one of the most common ways of transportation for millions of Americans. Yet, despite how familiar the experience can be, car accidents are some of the most significant threats to road safety.
Even though people have known the safety rules for years and car technology keeps getting better, thousands of people die on the roads each year.
But the thing is that the majority of these incidents could be avoided.
Knowing and understanding what causes accidents can help you stay on the safe side of the road. Whether you are looking at a few seconds of inattention or bad weather, familiarizing yourself with these common factors will help you drive more safely.
What you’re going to learn:
- The Leading Causes of Car Accidents
- Why Distracted Driving Is So Dangerous
- How Speed Contributes to Fatal Crashes
- Prevention Strategies That Really Work
Current Statistics: Deaths and Injuries in Car Accidents
The stats are alarming.
The NHTSA estimates the number of traffic fatalities for 2024 to be 39,345, down 3.8% from 2023. Although it may seem like a minor reduction in numbers, the death toll on the roads is still unacceptably high and could be prevented.
- The United States has one of the highest traffic death rates among developed countries.
- Even though the fatality rates have been going down over the past several years, the traffic death rate in America is still higher than in many other developed countries.
- It’s vital to know that anyone who has been involved in a car accident and was injured may have the right to seek damages and recover expenses from the parties responsible for the incident. It’s a good idea to consult an auto accident lawyer if someone you know has been hurt in a car accident.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
Fatalities have been on the decline for eleven quarters now. This means there is still a lot of work to be done.
Main Causes of Car Accidents
The thing is that car accidents usually don’t happen without any reasons. The majority of crashes are caused by some common factors which are linked to driver’s behaviour.
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence
- Reckless or unsafe lane changes
- Failure to yield or stop at signs
The above-listed factors are among the most common reasons car crashes happen. All of these things are, in fact, also completely preventable. Here are a few reasons that tend to be the major contributors to the rise in accidents.
Why Is Distracted Driving So Dangerous?
Distracted driving has become an epidemic. The NHTSA points out that any activity that takes the driver’s eyes, hands or mind off of the road is classified as distracted driving. These distractions can include:
- Texting
- Eating or drinking
- Applying makeup or doing anything else that is connected to grooming
- Using in-car electronics
- Chatting with passengers
The main distraction that causes the greatest number of car crashes, though, is texting.
Why is texting the most dangerous activity on this list? The simple truth is that sending or reading a single text takes a driver’s eyes off of the road for about 5 seconds. This is, in fact, like driving the entire length of a football field at 55 miles per hour without even looking at the road.
If that’s not scary enough, according to NHTSA data, 3,275 people lost their lives because of distracted driving in 2023. But that number is far from being the whole truth. In fact, a recent survey claims that about 50% of the drivers don’t report the facts that they were distracted at the time of the crash.
In this case, the three types of distractions are:
- Visual distraction: Taking eyes off the road
- Manual distraction: Taking hands off the wheel
- Cognitive distraction: Taking one’s mind off of driving
Typically, texting and driving is an example of all the three. This is what makes this dangerous.
How Does Speeding Contribute to Fatal Crashes?
Speeding is the number one cause of accidents. As you go faster, your reaction time becomes reduced. In this case, if a driver is speeding, they are going to have a much harder time avoiding an unexpected road obstruction or sudden movement of the vehicle in front of them.
The faster the vehicle is moving, the longer it is going to take to come to a complete stop. And, if the driver is on their phone or they get distracted for a second, the results can be devastating.
Speed is a factor in almost one-third of all fatal motor vehicle crashes. In other words, about 30% of all traffic deaths are caused by drivers exceeding the speed limit.
Drivers under 24 years of age have the highest percentage of speeding-related fatalities. In fact, young drivers between 16 and 24 years old are involved in a disproportionate number of speeding-related deaths.
Other Common Causes of Car Accidents
Apart from speeding and distracted driving, there are other things that might cause a driver to get into a car accident. They include:
- Driving under the influence: Drunk drivers are both impaired and unable to make correct judgments. Alcohol and other drugs slow down reaction times.
- Adverse weather conditions: Rain, snow, ice, or foggy weather can significantly change the way the road is maintained. Weather conditions usually cause drivers not to slow down as they are supposed to.
- Running a red light: This is one of the most common causes of intersection crashes, which are one of the most common causes of car accidents. Traffic crashes at intersections are often severe due to the type of impact involved.
- Driver fatigue: Drowsy driving is more common than you may think. It can lead to slower reactions or even falling asleep at the wheel.
- Tailgating: Following the car in front too closely allows no room for error. If a car stops, the rear-end accident becomes almost inevitable.
Prevention Strategies for Car Accidents
The good news is that most of the time, the best strategies to prevent car accidents are quite simple. They are all related to practising certain habits. All of the below-listed strategies can save a lot of lives if they were only to be implemented.
- Put your phone down: No text message, or phone call is worth dying for. If necessary, turn on “do not disturb” mode or find a safe place to stop.
- Stick to speed limits: Speed limits are there for a reason. Slowing down allows you to react to the unexpected faster.
- Stay sober: Never drink and drive, or operate a vehicle under the influence of any other substances. If necessary, order a taxi or ask a designated driver to take you home.
- Keep your distance: Leave at least three seconds of distance between you and the car in front of you. If the road conditions are poor, increase the time further.
- Pay attention: Don’t do anything that distracts your attention from the road. Stay focused.
- Don’t get tired: If you are feeling exhausted, get some rest before driving. Pulling over and taking a nap can help avoid a fatigue-related accident.
The Bottom Line
Car accidents are one of the most significant safety concerns on the road. Each year, thousands of people die on the roads of the United States. The sad thing is that the majority of these accidents are preventable. Drivers need to be more disciplined and focused when driving.
- Driving distractions are a significant problem that cause many car accidents each year.
- Speeding greatly increases the severity of any crash.
- Most car accidents are completely preventable.
- It is important for drivers to be responsible and stay aware.
The causes of accidents are well known. All that is needed is for people to take them seriously and use this information to stay safe. The roads can be a dangerous place, but the right set of skills and the proper attitude can make them much safer for everyone.
