Did you know that there are six million car accidents that happen every year in the United States?
As the population continues to grow in the US, the chances are that more car accidents will happen every year. Even with new developments in technology and safety, car accidents are still going to occur.
What are the factors that cause accidents, and what can you do to be a safer driver on the road to help do your part to prevent them? If you’re looking for the answer to these questions, we’ve created this quick guide to help you better understand. Keep reading to learn more.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving includes any action or behavior that causes you to take your hands off of the wheel, your mind off of the focus of driving or your eyes off of the road.
While many people point to texting and driving as the most common cause of distracted driving, there are many other ways that you can be a distracted driver.
Some of the most common ways that you can be a distracted driver and increase your chances of causing a car accident include:
- Drinking or eating
- Adjusting the features on your car such as sunroof, radio, GPS, or climate controls
- Taking care of children or passengers in the back seat
- Watching an event that’s happening outside of your vehicle
- Brushing your hair or applying makeup
- Reaching for an item that you dropped on the floor
- Having distracting conversations with other passengers in the vehicle
All these above-listed activities all meet the requirements to be considered distracted driving.
Have you recently been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault? You should consider hiring the help of an auto accident attorney.
Driving Too Slowly
While many of us can understand that speeding can increase our chances of being involved in a car accident, not many people are aware that driving too slowly is also equally as dangerous.
Keeping the speed of your car far under the recommended speed limit on the road is a behavior that can increase the chances of a car accident. This is especially dangerous if you’re driving on a multi-lane highway or on the interstate.
Drowsy Driving
Many people know that drinking and driving is dangerous, but not many people also know that drowsy driving is dangerous. The Federal Motor Carrier safety administration has found that drivers that have gone 21 hours of without sleep and are driving will experience the same level of impairment as a driver who has a 0.08 BAC.
What Are the Factors That Cause Accidents?
Countless factors go into the reason why accidents occur. However, what are the factors that cause accidents? The most common factors are distracted driving, driving too slowly, and driving while you’re drowsy.
Are you looking for other ways to improve your skills as a driver to be safer out on the road? Check out our blog for more information today.