The global epidemic of traffic-related deaths and disabilities is a major public health issue. Here, we will present statistics regarding road traffic accidents. The goal is to raise awareness about making our roads safe for everybody.
Car Accidents Happen More Often Than Not: 11 Facts and Statistics to Know
With millions of people driving or riding in vehicles every day to go to work, automobile accidents are among the top causes of work-related deaths worldwide. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), road traffic crashes claim the lives of approximately 1.3 million people per annum globally.
The risk of vehicular accidents applies to all workers, regardless if they drive light or heavy vehicles, or whether driving is a primary or secondary job function. Many of these fatalities are preventable and frequently caused by driver misconduct such as drunk driving, speeding, using one’s phone while driving, and driving in extreme weather conditions.
Who should be concerned?
According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), the global epidemic of traffic-related deaths and disabilities is a major public health issue. Having access to facts is the first step toward global road safety awareness and implementation.
One must keep in mind that we are all responsible for the prevention of potential pedestrian accidents and road fatalities. By strictly following traffic rules and proactively attending to our vehicle's requirements, we can play our part and achieve significant results.
Remember that regular car maintenance will not only help you avoid a collision but will also save you from costly concerns like electrical troubles, tire blowouts, engine failure, defective brakes, and, ultimately, personal injury settlements.
In this informative read, we will present statistics regarding road traffic accidents. The goal is to raise awareness about making our roads safe for everybody.
Top 3 Causes of Traffic Collisions
Car accidents have different classifications depending on specific factors.
Driving beyond the speed limit, as well as distractions, attitude, and anger can affect an individual’s judgment call.
Meanwhile, an airbag malfunction that could contribute to a passenger’s death in a car accident is an example of a vehicle factor.
Lastly, external elements like climate and natural hazards, road and highway defects, as well as lack of traffic signs are roadway environment-related issues that can lead to vehicular tragedies.
Here’s a closer look at the major causes of car accidents.
1. Lack of driving experience
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that in 2018, nearly 2,500 teenagers aged 13 to 19 died and approximately 285,000 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained in car accidents. This implies that younger drivers are more inclined than experienced ones to downplay risky situations. Moreover, 52% of these events occurred on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 37% of the incidents took place between 9 pm and 6 am.
2. Unsafe road and weather conditions
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the weather has a role in roughly 22% of the 6 million collisions that occur in the United States yearly. Evidently, the weather’s impact on the likelihood of an automobile accident is immense.
During winter, for instance, around 17% of car crashes occur. Collisions caused by weather kill more people each year than large-scale catastrophic disasters, making unsafe road conditions among the factors that drivers have no control over. These include problems like unexpected roadblocks, darkness or heavy fog, and slippery surfaces.
3. Risky driver behaviors
Several risky driver behaviors pose great dangers on the road. For one, overspeeding is identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) as the leading cause of tragic collisions. Around 10% of fatal crashes are caused by motorists under the influence of alcohol or drugs, while another 14% are caused by drivers failing to stay in the right lane or give the right of way.
Drowsy driving or falling asleep while at the wheel is also recognized by the NHTSA as a contributing factor, which accounted for 795 deaths in 2017.
Just in Texas, According to TxDOT, in 2021 about 1,029 people were killed and 2,522 people were seriously injured in a car accident by someone driving under the influence of alcohol.
Other Car Crash Statistics Worth Knowing
- Based on the World Health Organization‘s estimate that 1.3 million people die as a result of road traffic accidents every year, that figure equates to about 3,500 deaths each day. Furthermore, approximately 20 to 50 million people get injured or hospitalized due to the same cause.
- According to Statista, nearly 7 million passenger car accidents occur in the United States every year. Road traffic accidents are the major cause of death in the country, causing the death of more than 38,000 Americans on average.
- Estimates from the National Safety Council say that every year, more than 40,000 people are killed in car accidents in the United States. They also estimate that 4.57 million people have had significant injuries that require medical attention. The overall cost of these crashes is estimated to be approximately $413.8 billion per year.
- In California, humans are the most prominent factor in car collisions. As per the 2015 Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions, there have been 3,168 tragic accidents that caused 3,435 deaths. The report also mentioned that there’s a shocking record of 254,561 injuries brought about by vehicular accidents in 2015 alone.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concludes that car accidents, not terrorism, are the leading cause of death among healthy U.S. citizens living, working, or traveling abroad. For instance, there have been 456 Americans who died in road traffic accidents in other countries from 2013 through 2014.
- Up to 60% of adult drivers have admitted to having driven a vehicle while feeling fatigued, and more than one-third have confessed to falling asleep behind the wheel, according to the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America poll.
- Research estimates that "some ninety percent of motor vehicle crashes are caused at least in part by human error."
- Over-speeding has an immense economic impact on its own. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration forecasts that speed-related crashes cost Americans $40.4 billion each year. They estimate that every year, 10 million or more accidents go unreported.
8 Tips for Vehicular Accident Prevention
1. Practice defensive driving
By keeping an eye on the variations in speed, you can keep a safe gap between you and the car in front of you. If the vehicle behind you accelerates too quickly, consider increasing your speed to the allowable limit or moving to the right lane to allow them to pass. Keep in mind that excessive speeding can result in a traffic penalty.
2. Follow the rules on the right of way
Obey traffic laws and follow the right-of-way rules. For example, you must recognize that a vehicle that reaches an intersection before you do is the one that has the right of way. Under the right-of-way rule, that vehicle has the right to go first at that particular intersection.
3. Change lanes properly
Always give advance notice of your plan to change lanes. Then check your blind spot in your rearview mirror and over your shoulder. Refrain from switching lanes in the middle of a road intersection.
4. Refrain from tailgating
Tailgating is extremely risky, as it increases the likelihood of colliding with the vehicle in front of you. Any unexpected braking by the automobile in front of you will almost certainly result in a collision. Maintain a distance of two or three automobiles between you and their vehicle (on a freeway) to avoid this.
5. Keep your eyes peeled
When driving, be vigilant and actively monitor your surroundings for any dangers. This includes checking your side and rearview mirrors regularly. A scanning distance of 10 to 15 seconds ahead of you is generally considered safe. This permits you to anticipate and react to any impending risks. In a city setting, this equates to one block.
6. Keep your car in good condition
Not properly maintaining your vehicle can be a source of major accidents. If you don't have enough (or perhaps too much) air in your tires, they can blow out in the middle of the road and harm others. Watch out for bald tires too, as they're a hint that you might need to replace them. Keep an eye out for any loose parts that could fall off while driving and make sure your mirrors and lights are in good working order.
7. Steer clear of the fast lane
You’re not in a race to reach your destination ahead of others. Avoid the fast lane, which is where the majority of highway accidents occur. If you're in the center lane, you have more "escape" alternatives if someone on the road appears to be about to cause an issue. In addition, if you're driving in the left lane, the highway patrol is more likely to keep a closer check on you.
8. Don’t drive when under the influence of any sort
When you get behind the wheel, be sure you're not drunk or intoxicated under the influence of any drugs. You can safely return home using a variety of modes of transportation, but driving when inebriated is not one of them.
Safety on the Road is a Priority
Data on vehicular accidents demonstrate the dangers of irresponsible driving and the measures that must be taken before getting behind the wheel. One instant of distraction or loss of control on the road is all it takes to create a deadly situation. When hitting the road, be mindful of your surroundings, your vehicle, and yourself.