Top Causes of Road Accidents
Accidents can strike any time, any where, and to any one—and driving on the road increases the odds that you meet one. These accidents can be very minor, while some are so fatal, thousands of lives are taken every year by these horrible car crashes. Regardless of how careful you are while driving, there are many other extraneous factors that is not of your control that you should consider and think about.
While no one can predict and tell when, where, and how an accident will happen, every driver and car owner can prepare for it and know what to do to prevent it and what to do if ever they happen to be in one. Part of preparing for an accident is having enough knowledge: what are the most common road accidents and how can you avoid them?
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving becomes a larger threat every year and has been the leading cause of car accidents for the past decades. This paves way to the enactment of different laws which penalizes drivers who use gadgets, call or text, eat, read, talk, etc, while behind the wheel. In the US, there have been 1.6 million reported road crashes per year, according to the National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. It is very apparent that reports say that 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. It is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.
Alcohol and Drugs
Following close at second place is drunk driving. It is one of the most common and fatal causes of road collisions which kill and injure thousands yearly. Law enforcement against drunk driving is strictly implemented in every place.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Americans are killed every day due to motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This is one death every 51 minutes. The cost of alcohol-related crashes is estimated to total more than $44 billion per year.
Moreover, drugs other than alcohol (legal and illegal) are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes, the same agency reports. Marijuana users were about 25% more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no evidence of marijuana use.
Reckless Driving and Human Error
Another factor and common causes of car accidents: reckless driving. This is a broad aspect which can range from speeding over the limit, changing lanes quickly and without proper signing, to acting aggressively on the roads. Speed has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, the World Health Organization notes. One of their published reports on road-related injuries and death revealed that in high-income countries, speed contributes to about 30% of deaths on the road, while in some low-income and middle-income countries, speed is estimated to be the main contributory factor in about half of all road crashes.
Police reports have also found that disregard of the red light, tailgating, and Wrong-Way Driving/ Improper Turns are also some of the most common causes of road accidents as well.
Limited Visibility
Another common cause of vehicular accidents is the limited visibility caused by different factors, such as the weather and limited lighting. Drivers all over the world can agree that the rain makes it much harder to drive. The slippery, treacherous road conditions caused by heavy rains, contributing to the low visibility of the road ahead can be a recipe for disaster.
At the same time, drivers also cited that low lighting during night time can contribute to road accidents as well.
Design Defects
Sometimes accidents are caused by flaws in the car itself. This is why you need to regularly check up on your engine and make sure the car runs flawlessly, especially even before long drives.
This is why Car Insurance is important
It is an understatement to say that risk is an everyday reality. Accidents—in all forms, shapes, and intensities can happen any day to anyone. Some meet unfortunate events on the road as they were driving to work, or coming home. Once you’re driving, you expose yourself to a constant risk that indeed, you do not have direct control of. This is why every car owner should have their vehicles insured. Aside from following the law, drivers should accept the fact that accidents are just waiting to happen, and the best way to prepare for it is by having comprehensive car insurance.
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