4 Major Reasons for Car Crashes—And How You Can Avoid Them
Right off the bat it should be acknowledged that a lot of safety advocates don’t like the idea of calling a car accident an “accident”; they would rather the word “crash” or another more precise term like that be used. The reason is that they feel by saying something was an accident, it gives the impression that somehow it wasn’t due to human error, as if the incident was just an unfortunate occurrence. That said, until the majority of people come around to that awareness, for the purposes of this blog post, both “crash” and “accident” will be used interchangeably, and regardless of what you call them, there have been plenty over the years—too many could have easily been avoided.
Here are some of the top reasons for car crashes, and how you can avoid them.
Using a Mobile Phone
You’d be hard-pressed to not find someone who isn’t chained to their mobile phone. Even when such cellphone and smartphone users head out in their vehicles, they can’t leave home without their communications devices. As a result, it’s no coincidence that there’s been a surge in car accidents related to careless drivers being preoccupied with their phones. Too many phone conversations, or text messages, that could’ve waited until the driver arrived at their destination have led to injuries and a high number of fatalities. In fact, you’re four times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone than if you don’t, and it doesn’t matter if you hold it to your ear or if use a hands-free model. In 2011, almost one-quarter of all car accidents were due to drivers being on their phones. Teens especially have been having a hard time keeping their phones away from their ears while driving, and statistics from accidents involving mobile phones usually bear the cold, hard truth that their negligence has led to many lives being crippled or lost as a result. Do yourself and the public a favor and don’t use your phone at all while you’re driving.
Drunk Driving
So many people have been hurt in a car accident involving a drunk driver that most people would probably assume that it’s the No. 1 cause of car accidents. It isn’t. Nevertheless, drunk driving is one of those causes where you just scratch your head wondering why anyone would take such a high degree of risk with their life. In 2013 alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 10,000 people were killed because of someone driving with a blood alcohol concentration level that exceeded the legal limit. If you’ve been injured in such an accident or any of the others described in this post, then you should definitely contact an attorney so that the driver doesn’t get away with it and is held responsible for their actions.
Veering Off into Another Lane
At first glance, you might think a driver veering off into another lane might seem like a problem but not a leading reason for car accidents. You’d be wrong. In fact, in the majority of U.S. states this carelessness is in fact the No. 1 reason for car crashes. It’s a very scary reason because you could be driving along merrily and out of the blue, you have a driver—not seeming intoxicated or engaged in distracted driving—careering into you, leading to a senseless accident. Maybe the driver was too eager to switch lanes or didn’t check thoroughly enough to ensure they were clear to make the move they wanted. Your vigilance in looking out for such abruptness will go a long way in sparing you from being injured.
Speeding
Sadly, some drivers see the U.S. Department of Transportation’s speed limits as a simple suggestion and exceed them to their detriment. When stopped by the cops, they’ll come up with what they feel is the perfect excuse for being in a rush. It’s unfortunate because there are so many negative ramifications, everything from their insurance rates going up due to their infraction, to causing property damage, to being held accountable for causing injury or death to someone. At high speeds, it’s nearly impossible for them to react in time to head off an accident. It’s so very important for everyone to remember to slow down and obey the speed limits that are posted in the towns and cities they’re passing through.
Conclusion
Don’t be a casualty of a car crash. As a driver, obey the traffic laws and be responsible by avoiding being distracted by anything while operating your vehicle. As a pedestrian, use caution when passing by moving vehicles, paying attention to drivers who appear to be traveling at high speeds or driving errantly and staying clear of them.
Author’s Bio
Yunas Chaudhry is a super-connector with Darkroom Clicks Photographers In Islamabad who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, Photography, branding and networking. He frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing, digital photography,.
