Each time you drive your vehicle you run the risk of being in a car accident. You put your life and other lives around you at risk with your actions. Decisions like speeding or breaking other laws are hazardous to everyone on the road. Distractions and not paying attention to the road cause horrible crashes and serious injuries daily. So, what are the top 5 reasons that cause people to get seriously injured while driving?
Reason 1: Impaired Driving
Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs takes away your ability to focus, control or understand what you are doing while driving. In 2014, there were 9,967 people killed in alcohol related impaired crashes. Every 53 minutes there was an average of 1 alcohol related impaired driving fatality. These alcohol impaired fatalities were 31 percent of every single vehicular traffic fatality in the United States for 2014. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there are practically 300,000 motorists driving impaired daily. This proposes huge ramifications on our society. Driving drunk remains the number 1 cause of death on the highways.
Reason 2: No Seat belt Worn
Most states require motorists to wear seat belts. Your risk of injury in a car accident increases significantly when not wearing your seat belt. It is the single best means of improving your safety chances in vehicular collisions. Studies show that drivers and their front passengers reduce their risk of serious injury by 50% and fatality by 45% when seat belts are worn. By not wearing a seat belt, you become 30 times more prone to being thrown out of a vehicle at the point of impact. Drivers and passengers are protected from being ejected during an accident simply by properly wearing their seat belt.
Reason 3: Distractions
Anything that removes your attention from focusing while driving can be considered a distraction. Distracted driving increases your risk by 4 times that you will be in an accident. When you are not focused on the road, you are not able to see and respond to the movements of other drivers as quickly. Actions such as eating, talking on the phone, sending or reading text messages, or using a map or navigation device while driving are some examples of distractions. These can become issues that endanger the driver and everyone that is involved.
Texting while driving is particularly hazardous. It combines a multitude of different distractions. Reading or sending a text sends your focus away from driving for roughly 5 seconds. In those 5 seconds, you could go from one end of a football field to the other while driving at a speed of 55 mph.
Reason 4: Speeding
Speeding endangers every person on the road. The risk of an automobile accident increases as the rate of speed increases. Speed was responsible for 9,557 fatal crashes in 2015. Speeding decreases your ability to stop abruptly if needed. In addition, it increases the opportunity for serious injury in an accident. Even driving the posted speed limit can sometimes be unsafe for the current road conditions. Inclement weather or unfamiliar dark roads require caution regardless of the speed limit.
Reason 5: Ignoring Street Signs
Adhering to street signs is important. Signs are used to identify what direction you should drive down a street or if you are approaching an intersection where everyone stops. Ignoring these street signs can be dangerous and can cause serious injury. Head on collisions and other accidents can result. Be conscious of all street signs at all times. They are there to give direction while driving, biking or even walking.
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