What Causes Accidents on the Roads?

Every year, more than a million people die in crashes across the world, including some 40,000 in the United States — with some 2.5 million more injured in accidents on the roads. But of course, roads and cars aren’t inherently dangerous; it’s all about the people, and the context in which they’re driving. While sometimes freak accidents do happen, the majority of crashes are the result of a handful of actions. Some are obviously dangerous, while others seem fine. Take a read of the most common causes below – they might just help you be more careful in the future.

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Sending That Text

We live in an age where we can always be connected, always in touch with our friends and family. But that doesn’t mean that we should be. The vast majority of fender benders are caused by people staring at their phone, sometimes sending a text message, sometimes changing tracks, sometimes scrolling through social media. There are laws in many states that prohibit this kind of thing, but that doesn’t always stop people from doing it. We spend many hours each day staring at our smartphone; we can all surely take a break when we’re behind the wheel.

Under the Influence

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that, because you’ve done something a thousand times before, you can do it pretty much on autopilot. This thought crops up again and again with people and driving. But being able to do something on autopilot doesn’t mean that you can do it when you’re under the influence. A car is a machine, and it’s not possible to operate a machine well when your muscle and cognitive skills are not at their sharpest. The most damaging thing about driving under the influence is that it doesn’t only put the driver in danger, but every other driver and pedestrian on the road.

Unfit Cars

We can be almost endearingly loyal to our vehicles, especially if they’ve been with us for years upon years. But there is a downside to having a car that’s quickly moving into the “classic car” category; unless they’ve serviced regularly to make sure that they’re in full working condition, then they may not be as safe on the roads as they need to be. That’s because they’re more prone to breaking down, which, if it happens when they’re on a busy road, can cause an accident. If a car is beginning to feel less reliable than it should be, then it’s time to upgrade.

Bad Weather

It’s easy to drive when the weather is fine, clear, and there’s nothing but blue sky above us. But there are times when the weather changes, and this can make it more difficult to stay safe on the roads. This is mostly why the winter is dangerous: it’s just much more likely that there’ll be an accident if there is snow and ice on the ground. Conversely, it’s not the places that receive the most snow that are the most dangerous; the people there know how to drive in wintery conditions, because they come every year. It’s the areas that only occasionally receive snow where the trouble lies. The population living there don’t have the experience to navigate the conditions safely.

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Professional Drivers

You’d think that people who drive for a living would be the better drivers on the road. But actually, this isn’t the case. Professional such as taxi and truck drivers are often the cause of accidents, for two primary reasons. First, they’re more likely to take risks because they know the roads better than more inexperienced drivers. Second, they’re more likely to drive when they’re tired; the earlier they reach their destination, the earlier their job is completed. This puts other drivers on the roads at danger. If you’ve been involved in an incident involving a truck, then visit www.866attylaw.com today. There are laws in place to protect victims of such accidents, and, while you can’t undo the accident, you will be able to fight for financial compensation.

Too Fast, Too Dangerous

We live in an age where speed is king. The faster things happen, the better; or so goes the theory. This emphasis on speed has made speeding increasingly common. Some people won’t just get behind the wheel, buckle up, and drive safely to their destination: they’ll drive as if they’re involved in a professional race. But of course, the faster a driver is going, the less in control they’ll be — and the more serious the accident will be should something happen. Many accidents happen because a person couldn’t react fast enough. The faster a driver is going, the more likely it’ll be that this will happen!

Young Drivers

It takes time to get the necessary experience and know-how of how to function properly on the roads. Alas, new drivers don’t have this in their knowledge bank: they’ll only acquire it with time. Mix this lack of experience with enthusiasm, and you’ve got something of a dangerous combination. Young drivers get too excited, yet don’t fully know the rules of the road. It’s the perfect recipe for an accident.

Animal Hotspots

Roads only work if everyone plays by the rules. If one person breaks them, then things can go south pretty quickly. But of course, in some areas, it’s not just other drivers and pedestrians that need to play by the rules: animals do, too. For obvious reasons, they can’t and don’t. Many accidents are caused each year by wildlife straying off their turf and into a busy road.

Getting Angry

There’s much to love about driving, but it would be wrong to say that it’s all good. There are some pretty big downsides, too! Traffic, people cutting in front, and other road grievances all fuel road rage, which makes people more likely to have an accident. Anger is a loss of control, and to stay safe on the roads, a driver needs to be in control. Next time you feel your anger rising, just let it go — it won’t lead anywhere good.