According to Statista, there were about 12.15 million car crashes in 2019 in the United States. While not all of these were fatal—with only 36,096 traffic fatalities recorded within the same year—the number of fatalities increased to 38,680 in 2020.
Addressing the issue requires everyone’s collective effort, and taking a look at the root cause of the issue is a good start. From distracted and drunk driving to enjoying speeding too much while driving with poor visibility, below are common reasons why car accidents happen.
#1 Distracted Driving
It takes only a split second to actually get your car wrapped around a tree or street post. This is why driving requires your full attention 100% of the time.
Anything that takes your focus away from driving is considered a distraction:
· Using your phone while driving
· Eating and/or drinking while driving
· Talking to people in your car
While you can still talk to your passengers, staying alert is necessary. It’s also helpful to think twice before doing something else while driving. Can that activity wait till your car is parked and you’re not in danger of crashing into something?
#2 Drunk Driving
According to Bankrate, alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for 28% of the total traffic fatalities in 2019. Men account for 80% of these fatalities.
We don’t want to put a damper on anyone’s Saturday night out, but driving while being heavily inebriated puts you and those around you in extreme danger. If you really want to drink even if you’re the designated driver, though, consider the following:
· It generally takes 4 drinks for a 180-pound man and 2 drinks for a 120-pound woman to reach the legal intoxication level.
This information is not a challenge, but a reminder. It’s best to hail a cab instead of risking your safety after an alcohol-filled evening.
#3 Speeding
In 2020, the National Safety Council (NSC) reported that speeding was a huge factor in deadly crashes for:
· 21% on wet roads
· 42% on icy and frosted roads
If you’re living in an area where hail storms happen occasionally, such a weather phenomenon creates the perfect conditions for a trip to the emergency room—if you’re not careful on the road.
You’ll get to your destination eventually, so don’t hurry. You may end up rushing to the hospital if you continue to go beyond the speed limit.
#4 Poor Visibility
If possible, it’s better to stay indoors during a rainstorm—especially a hail storm. Not only will visibility be significantly decreased while you’re on the road, but your car will also take a beating.
While you can definitely entrust your hail-damaged vehicle to hail damage car repair professionals, nothing beats avoiding the damage altogether.
Also, if your car previously got damaged due to a hail storm and your windshield cracked from the impact of a large chunk of ice, it’s advisable to get auto hail repair and Windshield Replacement in Dallas TX ASAP. A cracked windshield will affect your vision while driving, and things can quickly go south if you’re driving in terrible weather conditions.
