Top 5 Causes of Auto Accidents

Even the most skilled and cautious drivers can be involved in auto accidents, because of careless mistakes made by either you or the other drivers around you. There is a huge responsibility every time we are on the road to take care of ourselves, our passengers and everyone else we are around. Luckily, the vast majority of accidents are caused by a handful of circumstances that you should be able to avoid and save you and other drivers from a costly accident. Distracted Driving You may have thought that speeding or drunk driving is the main cause of accidents every year in the United States, but it’s actually distracted driving. The term distracted refers to anything that takes your full attention away from driving. This could be texting or calling, eating, looking at something on the side of the road, or even closing your eyes while singing your favorite song. Limit distractions while you are driving by putting your cellphone away and maintaining full focus while on the road. Driving Drunk or Intoxicated Most of the tragic accidents we see every day in the United States are a result of drunk drivers. While completely avoidable, driving drunk continues to be a risk people are willing to take, especially on weekends and holidays. If you are planning to consume alcohol be sure you have a plan in place before you begin drinking, and if at some point your plan changes do not under any circumstance attempt to drive yourself home. Instead, opt to stay wherever you are until you feel normal. If you are a driver and you see someone else on the road driving erratically call your local drunk driver hotline right away. It’s better that the driver is charged with a DUI than cause an accident. Speeding, Road Rage, and Reckless Driving If you have ever been on the road with someone who is speeding or driving aggressively it can be unnerving. So it may not be a surprise for you to learn that speeding and reckless driving is one of the top three major causes of auto accidents every year. To mitigate the temptation to speed or get frustrated, leave 10 - 15 minutes before you were planning to leave so you have extra time built into your schedule. If you feel yourself getting angry or impulsive, it might be a good time to pull off for a break or even get a cup of coffee. Close Calls at Stop Lights If you have been sitting at a light for a while the temptation to roll through the intersection on a yellow or red arrow can be pretty strong. But this situation is one of the most common ways people get into t-bone accidents. T-bone accidents, especially those that occur on the driver or passenger side doors can be incredibly damaging to the people inside the car. To avoid this situation considering leaving early to ensure you have plenty of time to get to your destination. Another helpful tip would be to pause for 1 - 2 seconds after the light turns green to verify no one is running a red light and speeding through the intersection.