Top Ten Causes of Most Accidents

Getting into a car accident can be a devastating event and lead to several unwanted consequences, including permanent injuries, loss of earnings and death. On our roads every day, drivers and their passengers are involved in road collisions with the majority of these accidents being attributed to human error.

Vehicle that was hit by a truck in the right front area

In today’s fast pace society, multi-tasking is a common occurrence. We are inundated with emails, text messages, phone calls and a relentless shift to massive communication. Everywhere you look, people are rushing to get things done faster, easier and more effectively. However, when you get behind the wheel, it has never been more important to slow down and focus on the task at hand in a calm and alert manner. Your safety and the lives of others depend upon you making the right choices when you drive.

Although Canada has seen a decline in road accidents in the past few years, car accidents are still a serious epidemic, especially among the younger generation who are technology driven. Younger drivers are especially implicated in the illegal use of handheld devices such as phones, tablets, iPods and earbuds. This is a disturbing trend because the odds of a crash jump 23-fold if a driver is texting.

Transport Canada’s National Collision Database (NCDB) contains data on all reportable motor vehicle collisions in Canada that the provinces and territories provide each year. While their information appears somewhat good, there is still an overabundance of accidents that are preventable simply by drivers being more responsible, slowing down and adhere to the rules of the road. Here are the top ten reasons accidents occur.

Distracted driving:

Distracted driving is the leading cause of the staggering amount of serious car accidents. Driver inattentiveness prevents you from safely driving a car because you must give the road your full attention. Distractions significantly contribute to collisions.

Speeding and reckless driving:

Exceeding the posted speed limit, willfully disregarding traffic regulations and exhibiting aggressive driving tactics causes accidents. The faster you go the harder it is to stop.

Drunk driving:

Driving while intoxicated is responsible for the highest death rates in most jurisdictions. The best technique to prevent drunk driving is to limit alcohol, take a cab or have a friend drive you home.

Mobile devices:

Cell phones and other devices have taken over as the #1 cause for distractions and traffic accidents. Cell phone use involves talking or texting on your phone or mobile device while driving a car, a bad combination.

Drug use:

Driving under the influence of any type of perception altering substance, such as drugs like cocaine, crack, LSD, Meth amphetamines, and marijuana prevents you from driving with a clear head, leading to accidents. This can also include over the counter medications that causes drowsiness.

Inside distractions:

Taking your eyes off the road to temporarily pay attention to something going on the inside your car can contribute to collisions. Tending to a child or picking up something you’ve dropped takes your eyes off the road.

Eating in the car:

Many accidents are the result of people eating in their cars. They take their eyes off the road when dealing with fallen food on the lap and especially reacting to hot drinks spilling on their chest or lap.

Bad roads:

Even a careful driver can encounter bad road conditions leading to an accident. Pot holes and uneven pavement can lead to serious car accidents by throwing you off balance and a loss of control of your vehicle.

Bad weather:

People who do not make changes to their driving habits with bad weather conditions set themselves up for accidents. Visibility is reduced, which diminishes the ability to handle a vehicle properly.

Rubbernecking:

Rubbernecking is among the top causes of traffic accidents and related injuries because your eyes are not on the road, but rather looking at some event as you pass by it.

Contact us for any further information on this topic or if you’re in need of collision repair.