Every time someone uses the road, there is a risk involved; pedestrians get run over and cars collide. One survey recorded that there were 38,000 road deaths in America annually. California features at the top of the list for both fatal crashes and non-fatal injuries.
Common Causes Of Road Accidents
When the accident statistics are so high you can’t help but wonder why they happened. You may be a brand new motorist or someone who wants to drive more competently. If you learn what are the most common accidents and why they occurred, you can protect yourself from making the same mistakes.
Speeding
When people exceed the limit they do more than break the law. The faster they drive, the slower their braking distance. This can spell trouble if someone unexpectedly reaches a traffic queue, or if the car in front suddenly slows down. There could be a road accident up ahead or two lanes merging into one. If someone is hurtling along the freeway they may not be able to slow down in time.
Supposing someone experienced a rear-end collision and it wasn’t their fault. According to this site, many people seek legal advice to discover whether they can sue for negligence. Personal injury lawyers often help accident victims determine whose fault it was, and battle against reluctant insurance companies. Many attorneys offer free initial consultations to help people find the best solution.
Distraction
This is the leading reason why people have vehicle accidents in the USA, if not worldwide. Never hold a smartphone to have a conversation whilst driving, and avoid texting at all costs. Even hands-free phones have been shown to reduce peoples’ concentration whilst travelling.
The practical advice is wide-ranging: don’t groom yourself or put on makeup while driving. Don’t eat and drink or try to read maps on the move. It can be dangerous to turn sideways to view beautiful scenery, and accidents can generate more accidents.
Irresponsible Driving
In the United Kingdom, poor turns and manoeuvring are number four on the accident list, and careless driving is number three. A person may be tailgating because they are frustrated by the ‘slow’ driver in front. Should the vehicle ahead slow down, there’d be one of the rear-end collisions we discussed earlier. There could also be a domino effect with more cars becoming involved in the pile-up.
People who are in a hurry sometimes overtake cars in an irresponsible way. They may do this on a blind bend or when vehicles are coming the other way. Alternatively, they may drive through red lights.
Indecisive Drivers
If someone isn’t sure of their destination they may be travelling slowly and erratically, and glancing sideways at a map. At any point, they may simply stop. Going back to UK accident statistics, sudden breaking rates at number ten. When motorists make sudden lane changes, other drivers are forced to avoid them.
It’s always wise to not depend on your GPS system because the signal could be lost. Try and study a map in advance so you have a better idea of where you are going.
Drink And Drugs
This is the third most common cause of crashes in the USA. Alcohol can make people feel overconfident and judge distances badly. Their reaction times also become impaired. If you’re going out and planning to drink, either restrict your consumption or travel by taxi. Other drugs can cause accidents too, including prescription medication and marijuana.
Tiredness And Late Night Driving
On longer journeys, you should schedule regular breaks of at least thirty minutes each. If your eyes are tired, it’s essential that you stop rather than falling asleep at the wheel. So it is recommended not to travel late at night because there could be reduced visibility.
Poor Weather
This can be anything from rain or snow, hail or fog. It can restrict your visibility and make the roads slippery. If the weather reports are bad, think twice before you travel. If you must do so, reduce your speed and use the correct lighting (eg fog lamps). Experienced drivers could consider having a few driving lessons to help identify any issues. If motorway driving is stressful for you, why not receive some extra help with this?