7 Most Common Causes of Collisions Every Driver Should Know

Despite new advances in vehicle technology like adaptive headlights, backup cameras, and forward-collision systems (FCS), car accidents are still extremely common. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 36,560 people were killed on the roads in 2018, and 2.71 million accident victims sustained injuries that required a visit to a medical professional.

Just because you are careful doesn’t mean you can avoid a car accident completely. There are so many damages, pains, deaths, and frustrations that might arise as a result of a car accident, and it’s best to guard your life above all. Let’s look at the most common causes of car accidents:

1. Risky driving behavior and deliberate violation of traffic rules.

This is probably the most common cause of a car accident. Ignoring road signs and traffic lights, changing lanes without the "turn signal" turned on, and undercutting can lead to irreversible consequences.

2. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Unfortunately, many drivers think they are able to drive a car when being drunk or on drugs. Alcohol can impair your driving skills, slows reaction time, affects your coordination, reduces concentration, decreases vision, and inhibits judgment.

Alcohol consumption can put everybody at risk of causing a car accident or other serious injury. But some populations are more likely to get behind the wheel of a car after alcohol consumption.

People who are between the ages of 16 and 20 years old are 10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash, than drivers over the age of 21.

3. Speeding

Unfortunately, many drivers like to drive fast, while not taking into account the traffic situation. Speeding is the second most common cause of car accidents in the U.S.

Did you know that speeding causes nearly 55 percent of road accidents in the U.S.? It provokes accidents and increases the severity of collisions for several reasons. When you are driving too fast, it takes longer to slow down and react to changes in traffic, road obstructions, and accidents.

You need to choose the speed depending on the road conditions (in particular, the type, condition, and slope of the road), visibility and visibility, the technical condition of the car, etc.

4. Distracted driving

This category includes the inattentive attitude of drivers towards other drivers and even pedestrians. Talking on the phone, eating food while driving, and speaking with passengers can also cause auto collisions.

5. Falling asleep behind the wheel.

Lots of drivers don’t get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel. A drowsy driver has difficulty paying attention to the road and has slower reaction times.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the average person needs seven or more hours of sleep each night, but more than a third of adults do not get the sleep they need.

You might think that lack of sleep is not a serious problem, but you should know that drivers who got only five or six hours’ sleep are almost twice as likely to be involved in a car accident.

Things like alcohol or drug intake and certain medications can make you sleepy. Untreated sleep disorders like sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or narcolepsy often are misdiagnosed, and therefore, not treated

6. Wrong-Way Driving

Everyone makes mistakes, but lapses in judgment while driving a car can cause fatal accidents. Be aware of street signs warning of one-way streets or other irregularities, especially in unfamiliar areas.

Accidents often occur when people don’t get in the proper lane to make a turn, use signals properly, or follow traffic signals. Always look out for traffic signs and obey the proper right-of-way when you make a turn.

7. Violation of overtaking rules.

Overtaking is one of the most demanding and frequent maneuvers associated with increased speed and limited visibility. A head-on collision is often the result of improper overtaking. In this maneuver, it is necessary to accurately calculate the safe distance between the machines and be sure to turn on the appropriate warning signal.

You can overtake only if it is possible to exceed the speed of the overtaken vehicle by at least 15 km / h, and its driver is not going to change the direction of travel (therefore, it is very important to know in advance the intentions of the driver of the overtaken vehicle).

Here is how to reduce your risk of car accident

• Try avoiding night driving. The risk of a car accident is much higher at night than in the day. Try limiting nighttime driving until you're comfortable driving during the day.
• Use your cell phone only for emergencies on the road. Using a cell phone while driving is one of the worst habits. Keep a cell phone with you in the car for emergency situations only.
• Wear your safety belt. Always wear a safety belt whenever you are in a car, whether as a driver or a passenger - no exceptions.
• Drive a safe vehicle. If you are thinking of getting your own car, look for one with high safety ratings. Avoid small cars, trucks or sport utility vehicles. Check out federal statistics and consumer report literature to help to evaluate the safety rating of a car or truck.
• Limit your passengers. The risk of a fatal accident increases with every additional passenger. When you're a new driver, it is best to limit your number of passengers.