Driving is a complex and dangerous task. There are over 300 million registered vehicles in the United States and more than 60 million drivers. Each year, over 12 million car accidents cause around 600,000 injuries and 150,000 deaths. Car accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States. Car accidents kill almost twice as many people every year as gun violence.
Several factors contribute to the high number of car accidents. Common causes of car accidents include distracted driving, not wearing seat belts, speeding, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If we can understand and address these issues, we can make driving safer for everyone.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a major reason for car accidents in the US. People tend to get distracted while driving using their mobile phones or navigation systems. This is dangerous due to the speed drivers are required to drive and the lack of space on roads to maneuver safely. There are also laws in most states requiring safety lights for drivers who pass trucks and other large vehicles. Failure to do this makes drivers invisible to other road users using their mobile phones.
Failure to wear seat belts
Wearing seat belts reduces the risk of being involved in a car accident by 60 percent compared to people who don’t wear them. In addition, belt buckles should be within easy reach so drivers don’t have to fumble around for them while driving. Not buckling up also makes drivers more likely to speed as they try to get somewhere on time after failing to find a parking spot. Drivers who illegally pass cars will also increase their risk without belts on.
Driving under influence
Drunk drivers can’t function at the same level as sober drivers. They have slower reaction times, vision problems, and impaired coordination. If you’re tired after drinking, you’ll have an even harder time driving safely- making it even more dangerous than driving sober. Accidents at night are much harder to resolve without visibility functions such as headlights or night vision. Few people want to get behind the wheel of a vehicle with limited capabilities; this is why drinking and driving are punishable by law in most countries.
Reckless driving
Unfortunately, not everyone respects the rules while driving. Unruly drivers increase the risk of accidents and are much more likely to pass recklessly or break speed limits. Police must enforce traffic laws whenever they encounter dangerous behavior in action. Luckily, enforcing laws makes roads safer for everyone; authorities must punish dangerous drivers and keep roads safe at all times. For additional info on safe driving, check out this new report from GoodHire.
Conclusion
There are several reasons for car accidents, including the ones mentioned above. Drivers need to be vigilant while driving and keep pedestrians and other cars in mind. Driving carefully should be the aim of every driver so that they can keep themselves safe, their passengers, and pedestrians. These problems can be easily avoided if drivers follow all the rules and drive in their senses.