To keep yourself and other drivers safe while on the road, it’s important to be aware of these leading causes of car accidents and how to prevent them.
Driving is a necessary task for many people, but it’s also inherently dangerous. Each year, millions of vehicle accidents occur, thousands of which are fatal. Because the majority of car accidents are caused by human error and preventable, it’s important to be aware of what you can do to keep yourself and other drivers safe. Here are some of the leading causes of car accidents and how to prevent them.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving is by far the leading cause of car accidents in the U.S. each year, accounting for more crashes than drunk driving, speeding, or other leading causes. Distracted driving refers to driving while engaging in other activities. Common driving distractions include texting, eating, applying makeup, or fiddling with your GPS or music settings.
To avoid a distracted driving accident, it’s important to stay focused on the road and eliminate multitasking as much as possible. If you need to engage in another activity other than driving, pull over and come to a complete stop before doing so.
Reckless driving
Another leading cause of car accidents is reckless driving. Reckless driving can refer to driving much faster than the speed limit, changing lanes without checking your mirrors properly, or blazing through red lights and stop signs. Regardless of whether you’re running late or angry because another driver cut you off, there’s never an excuse to drive recklessly, as doing so puts your life and the lives of other people at risk. To avoid getting into an accident as a result of reckless driving, it’s important to remain calm and follow all driving signs and limits. If you’re tempted to speed or engage in other reckless behavior, ask yourself if doing so is worth risking your life. Such a perspective could help you avoid getting into a dangerous situation.
Driving while under the influence
A highly preventable yet leading cause of vehicle accidents is driving while under the influence. Driving under the influence is a crime that involves operating a vehicle while one is impaired by some sort of substance, such as alcohol or other drugs, beyond a legal limit. Before engaging in a situation where you expect to drink, always come up with a plan on how you’ll get home—one that doesn’t involve sobering up and driving home yourself. Whether you assign a designated driver, opt for a taxi or Uber, or ask a friend to come pick you up, you should always have a plan. Waiting until after you’re intoxicated to start thinking about how you’ll get home will likely result in some poor decisions where you end up behind the wheel.