What Caused 800 Cars to Meet a Violent End?

On any given day, there are about 800 car wreck in the United States. That’s one every minute and a half. And while most of these are minor fender benders, about 6,000 people are killed and tens of thousands more are injured each day in car wrecks.

This is the unfortunate reality of car accidents. But while we can’t prevent all car accidents, there are things we can do to reduce the number and severity of them. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common causes of car accidents and what you can do to avoid them.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

There are many factors that can contribute to a car accident, but some causes are more common than others. Here are the four most common causes of car accidents:

1. Distracted Driving:Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from the task of driving. This can include anything from talking or texting on your phone to eating, drinking, or changing the radio station. Distracted driving is especially dangerous because it takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off of driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving was a factor in 3,166 fatal crashes in 2017 alone. 

2. Speeding: speeding is another major contributing factor to car accidents. In fact, speeding was a factor in 26% of all fatal crashes in 2017. Speeding increases both your chances of being in an accident and the severity of the accident if you are involved in one. When you speed, you have less time to react to hazards on the road and less control over your vehicle. 

3. Driving Under the Influence: impairment due to drugs or alcohol is another leading cause of car accidents. In 2017, almost 30% of all fatal crashes were caused by drunk driving. If you’re going to drink or use drugs, don’t get behind the wheel—it’s not worth risking your life or the lives of others. 

4. Fatigue: fatigued driving is similar to impaired driving in that it impairs your ability to operate a vehicle safely. When you’re tired, you have slower reaction times and trouble focusing on the road. If you find yourself feeling drowsy while driving, pull over somewhere safe and take a nap or drink some coffee (but not too much—caffeine can also lead to fatigue). 

Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents

Now that we know some of the most common causes of car accidents, let’s talk about what we can do to avoid them: 

1. If you must use your phone while driving (for example, if you’re using a GPS app), put it in hands-free mode so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road; 

2. Obey posted speed limits—they’re there for a reason; 

3. Never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs; 

4 Make sure you get enough rest before getting behind the wheel—if you’re tired, take a break! 

Conclusion: 

Car accidents are unfortunately common occurrences in our society—but they don’t have to be! By being aware of some of the most common causes of car accidents and taking steps to avoid them, we can make our roads safer for everyone involved!