Distracted and Drunk Driving are Top Causes of California Crashes
California has more licensed drivers than any other state in America. In fact, some 26.8 million people have driver’s licenses here or more than 10 percent of the total 225 million licensed drivers in the United States.
Our roadways are among some of the most congested in the country. While there are 14.5 million registered vehicles in California, the Golden State attracts millions of visitors every year who drive here or rent cars and drive our busy and unfamiliar roadways.
While we have the most populous state, we don’t have the worst drivers in the country as that title goes to Mississippi and Tennessee came in second place. California did tie for third with Missouri for the worst drivers in 2018, according to a study by SmartAsset.
Traffic accidents are caused by one of the following: human mistakes, inexperience or aggressive driving, road conditions, weather or mechanical problems.
It’s inevitable that at some time in a person’s lifetime they will be involved in some sort of collision — hopefully there are no injuries. Most collisions are survivable, but a small percentage of the total crashes in the United States end in a fatality or severe injury.
Most people drive safely, but there are those who drive aggressively and put others at risk. Roughly a third of all fatal crashes involve a driver who is under the influence of alcohol and another third are caused by speed.
Traffic laws are made to ensure the safety of all drivers, but there are always those who ignore the rules and that’s often when crashes occur.
Below are the most common causes of car accidents in the United States. Read carefully to find out what actions you can start taking today to prevent them
1. Distracted Driving
There has always been distracted drivers since the first Model T hit the road back in TKTK. However, the types of distractions have increased over the years with the increased number of drivers on the road, technology such as cell phones and CD players and human distractions such as passengers and eating.
2. Drunk or Drugged Driving
Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of fatal crashes and the most dangerous thing a person can do behind the wheel. Roughly a third of all fatal crashes involve a driver who had consumed alcohol before they got behind the wheel.
3. Speeding
Speeding is the second most common cause of accidents. There is never a good reason to speed when you are driving. There are speed limits imposed on roadways to help guide a driver on how to safely navigate a roadway to ensure the safety of all motorists.
4. Reckless Driving
Drivers who are reckless put everyone at risk. Among the actions considered reckless is frequent lane changes, speeding well over the limit, aggressive maneuvers such as tailgating or speeding up to stop another driver from changing lanes or cutting off other motorists. If you are angry or something life-changing has happened to you, don’t get behind the wheel until you have calmed down.
5. Rain or Flooding
It’s always best to plan trips when the weather is clear, but that’s not always the case. Slippery, treacherous road conditions or flooded streets can cause major collisions.
6. Running Red Lights
It may seem obvious, but it bears repeating. Red always means stop. Even if it seems like no other cars are coming, you can cause a serious accident by running a red light and you will be breaking the law. We’ve heard several excuses from busy entrepreneurs trying to run through red lights while thinking about work, from those legal contracts to investor relations, and at the same time literally trying to answer to work emails. Understand that life is more important than all these issues combined and it’s best to be safe than sorry.
7. Night Driving
Nighttime driver is always more dangerous than daytime driving and statistics show this to be true. There is a lack of visibility coupled with glare from street lights and headlights that makes it difficult for drivers to navigate roadways.
8. Wrong-Way Driving, U-Turns, Left Turns
Some of the most horrible accidents are those involving wrong-way drivers or people who make left-hand turns or U-turns when it’s not safe to do so. Be aware of street signs warning of one-way streets and never try to turn ahead of oncoming traffic.
9. Road Conditions:
Potholes can cause a car to veer out of its lane or even overturn if it’s hit hard enough. Poorly designed roadways can also put you in harm’s way and it may be too late to avoid one when you find yourself there.
10. Mechanical Problems
There are many types of mechanical problems that can lead to a collision, but the most common is getting a flat tire while driving. This can cause you to swerve unexpectedly or even overturn if you are driving on the freeway.
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