Driving comes with an inherent risk of accidents and injuries. However, the risk can significantly increase if drivers act recklessly and ignore important road safety rules. For example, following too closely to the car ahead will leave little or no time to react if it stops suddenly. This is the cause of many rear-end collisions.
Speeding
The most common cause of a collision is overspeeding. Drivers who routinely speed run the risk of serious car accidents that result in catastrophic injuries. The more often drivers speed, the more likely they are to develop bad habits that lead to dangerous behaviors. Even experienced drivers can fall into the trap of chronic speeding. It may start with simply forgetting to check their speedometer regularly. In some cases, it could involve more awareness about road conditions, like heavy rain or snow, that cause people to exceed the speed limit.
The biggest reason it’s so important always to check your speed is that when driving above the legal limit, you have much less time to react to unexpected obstacles or road hazards. This is especially true at intersections, where you must be able to size up the situation quickly.
Distracted Driving
Whether talking to a passenger, arguing with a child or fumbling for an iPod or radio button, drivers can become distracted by anything. Studies show that even five seconds without eyes on the road at 55 mph is enough to cause a collision. If you see a driver flailing their hands in the air at a stoplight or slowing down for no reason while traveling through an intersection, they may be arguing with someone in the car or trying to beat traffic by running a light. Other signs of distraction include delayed decision-making or choosing an action inappropriate for the situation at hand. Observing the behavior of an at-fault driver and submitting their phone records can help prove that they were distracted in a serious accident.
Road Hazards
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced driver, many road hazards can cause car accidents. These are typically unexpected obstacles that can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. They can include everything from potholes, broken stop signs, and faulty traffic lights.
Often, these types of obstacles result from poor maintenance or negligent city or county workers. This makes it important to drive defensively and be aware of all road conditions.
Always scan the area around you while driving, paying special attention to parked cars and pedestrians. The more you pay attention, the quicker you will be able to react to any potential road hazards. In addition, driving at a low speed will give you more time to respond.
Dangerous Curves
Dangerous curves are tight turns that can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. Often, these curves are located in rural areas and are called “Dead Man’s Curves.” Transportation departments usually put up warning signs to notify drivers that a dangerous curve is approaching. If drivers fail to read or ignore these warnings, they can run off the road and collide with another vehicle. Sometimes, a driver can even leave their lane and hit a pedestrian. Additionally, if drivers misjudge the speed required for a safe turn, they may over-accelerate and roll over their vehicle.
Bad Weather
When the weather is bad, it may be difficult to see and drive. Rain, fog, ice and snow all lead to car accidents yearly. According to the DOT, weather-related car crashes kill an average of 5,000 people each year and injure 418,000 more.
Heavy fog reduces visibility to just a few feet, making it difficult to see the vehicle in front of you. It can also hide lane markings, causing you to drift into another lane or even cause a rear-end accident.
Icy roads require drivers to slow down and leave an additional stopping distance. When a driver fails to do this and causes an accident, they could be liable for your injuries. Many accidents are caused by reckless driving.
