What is the Leading Cause of Vehicle Fatalities?
August 30, 2021
For many of us, crawling behind the wheel of a car, truck, or riding a motorcycle is a daily occurrence. Unfortunately, things we do every day become less safe whenever driving becomes second nature. Whether you are experienced or are relatively new to negotiating traffic, never offload what you’re doing behind the wheel to the subconscious part of your mind.
Regardless of what you might think, subconsciously you are less competent at handling the challenges that can occur at a moment’s notice. Attentive driving requires many different tasks from steering your vehicle to making sure you are maintaining a safe braking distance.
So, if you’ve ever found yourself driving without thinking, there is a good chance you are not looking far enough ahead.
Top 10 Causes of Motor Vehicle Fatalities
Think you know the leading cause of traffic deaths, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration? Then, click on the ten questions below to see how well you do:
What is the #1 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Driving too fast for traffic or road conditions, or operating a car, truck, or motorcycle faster than the posted speed limit.
What is the #2 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Drunk driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications.
What is the #3 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Failure to yield right of way. For motorcycle accidents, it is most often a driver turning left directly in front of the rider.
What is the #4 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Failure to stay in the proper lane.
What is the #5 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Operating a vehicle in a careless manner.
What is the #6 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Distracted driving to include talking on the phone, texting, eating, looking for an object in the vehicle, or passengers in the car.
What is the #7 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Failure to obey traffic signs, crossing signals, or law enforcement.
What is the #8 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Operating a vehicle in an erratic, reckless, or negligent manner.
What is the #9 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Overcorrecting behind the wheel or oversteering the car and losing control.
What is the #10 driving behavior involved in fatal car crashes?
Obscured driver vision due to rain, snow, smoke, glare, lights, trees or bushes.
If you got every answer right, you’re doing a great job in keeping up with latest driver safety information. Either way, being more aware of what you’re doing when you are driving is key to protect yourself and your passengers as well as to help reduce the cost of auto insurance by eliminating accidents.
Why Fatalities Spiked During COVID-19 Pandemic
For the first time in more than a decade, the preliminary auto fatalities data collected by the National Safety Council suggests an increase of more than 8% in the number of people (42,060) who died in crashes in 2020 when compared to the previous year’s statistics. Somewhat alarming since people generally drove a significantly less often and much shorter distances during the pandemic. An estimated 4.8 million additional roadway users and passengers were seriously injured as well.
Traffic experts and law enforcement officials at the state and local levels have suggested that speeding and distracted driving are both driving behaviors that may have suffered due to people having to stay at home. Slightly less traffic on Florida roadways has made driving at a faster speed both easier and more appealing. On the other hand, people are staying connected more via their cellphone during the health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a vehicle traveling 55 mph will cover the length of a football field in about five seconds.
Any type of distraction provides enough time to make the simplest mistake that diverts your attention. Once you take your eyes off the road or mind off maintaining safe control of their vehicle, it can result in a poor outcome. Although legal discussions often center around talking on the phone and texting, anything that takes your attention away from the vital task of safely operating your vehicle is a potential danger.
