The Main Causes of Road Accidents
Nobody looks forward to having a road accident. In fact, a road accident is the most undesirable thing to happen to any road user. Still, these accidents occur, perhaps too often. The sad thing about it all is that most road users are quite aware of the general rules and safety measures while on the roads but approach the matter with a lot of laxity leading to accidents and crashes. Getting involved in a road accident can lead to various unwanted consequences, including permanent body injuries, property destruction, and money loss. Surprisingly, most accidents and crashes occur because of human error. When this has happened to you will likely need the best car accident lawyers to help with your injury compensation claim. So, why not avoid a car accident in the first place? Understanding the leading causes of road accidents is one of the first steps in preventing such. This article focuses on the leading causes of road accidents, which, while seemingly obvious and redundant to experienced drivers, are key to master if you seek safety.
1. Drunk Driving
Engaging in fun with friends, family, or peers is never a problem, especially after a long tiring day. But when alcohol and driving come together, you are possibly converting what would have otherwise been a joyous moment into a misfortune. Do not attempt to get behind the wheel if you realize you are drunk. Aside from being very irresponsible, you are creating danger for yourself and other road users. It is even worse if you are a habitual drunk driver, but just because you can does not mean you should. Drunk driving is an offense and a serious one at that. However, it is important to understand what exactly driving under the influence of alcohol predisposes you to and what happens. When intoxicated, your senses are not functioning maximally, and your concentration decreases. Besides impairing your senses, alcohol consumption results in decreased muscle coordination and slower reaction times, a combination that is not good for driving a car. You may be lucky to survive as a result of your drunk driving but think about your loved ones that you are carrying and the rest of the road users that you may harm in the process.
2. Over Speeding
Human beings possess a natural psyche to excel, and if given a chance, man is sure to achieve infinity in speed. Take your time on the highway, and you will see them going over the speed limit, especially on the highway. Over speeding is one of the commonest causes of fatal accidents. Here’s why faster vehicles are more prone to accidents than slower vehicles: The faster you drive, the slower your reaction time if you need to prevent an auto accident. Moreover, the forces in the human body increase in a collision at high speed, resulting in even more damage to the body. Having suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident in WA you ought consider contacting the best personal injury lawyers Perth for injury claims assistance. Most people will agree when you mention going at 100mph or over as being foolish. Yet, many of us fail to realize that exceeding the speed limit, even by 5 mph, in the wrong place can be just as fatal.
3. Distracted Driving
The main cause of road accidents today in most countries is distracted driving. It may seem minor, but a distracted driver can lead to one of the most dangerous situations on the road. When talking of distractions, they could be within or from outside. A good example of distracted driving is using your phone while driving. It is important to realize that being on the phone uses a major part of your brain and therefore takes off your attention from the road, hindering safe driving. Because of the brain division, this interferes with the reaction time and judgment ability. At this point, causing a road accident is inevitable. Other examples of distracted driving include adjusting mirrors while driving, animals on the road, stereo or radio in the vehicle, and banners and billboards on the way. Ensure to keep all your focus on the road, as your life is more important than the rest.
4. Red Light Jumping
A common sight on the road is beating the red light, especially at road intersections that vehicles cross without caring for the light. The whole point of jumping a red light is to save time. However, asking yourself whether your life is worth the risk is good. Conventionally, stop lights are put in place to engineer different traffic conditions such that the flow of traffic is manageable and not too congested. Contrary to the opinion that stopping at red signal wastes time and fuel, studies have shown that following these traffic lights properly saves drivers time and allows commuters to reach their destination safely. Besides breaking the rules of the road, beating the red light jeopardized your life and that of other road users. Even worse, red light jumping by one driver incites other drivers to do the same resulting in chaos at crossing and ultimately causing a traffic jam.
5. Avoiding Safety Gears
Every road user must pay keen attention to the safety gear advocated for a while on the road. Such include the safety belt and helmets for two-wheeler drivers. Your chances of surviving an accident on the road increase when you have your safety gear in place. Sometimes, avoiding a road accident may not be possible, and the only thing determining the extent of your injuries will be how safe you were in the vehicle. Ignoring safety gears attract penalty aside from endangering you and the other road users. In fact, the use of a seat belt is a mandatory law that every driver should implement.
6. Poor Road Lighting
Driving on a poorly lit road increases the number of accidents on the road. This may be why driving at night is sometimes challenging for most people. For this reason, it is important to have functional streetlights on roads and highways, especially at night. This is because visibility contributes a great deal to your driving. If you are driving at night, you are encouraged to be highly aware of your surroundings to avoid unnecessary occurrences on the road.