| The most common car accidents are not hard to | | | | negligence, which can either be due to reckless driving |
| identify. Across all states in the United States, statistics | | | | or to driver distraction, two other minor causes that |
| point to certain causes as the main reasons that lead | | | | bring about several driver negligence car accident |
| to the common car accidents suffered on the roads. | | | | cases. The Automobile Association even names driver |
| Unfortunately so, these car accidents will so far have | | | | distraction and negligence as the root cause of more |
| led to around 25 million deaths. And despite all the | | | | than 25 percent of car accidents. |
| efforts of the government to ensure road safety and | | | | Driver distraction can be caused by several things. |
| enforce traffic rules, and of vehicle manufacturers to | | | | Ironically, rubbernecking, which means to slow down to |
| install safety technologies into automobiles, car | | | | check out another accident, brought around 16 percent |
| accidents still occur in frightening numbers. And the | | | | of driver distraction cases. Driver negligence can also |
| most common car accidents tell us why. | | | | spring from driver fatigue, distraction from the |
| The Real Problem | | | | surrounding scenery, distraction from other passengers, |
| Statistics show that the most common auto accident | | | | consulting maps, using cellular phones, and adjusting the |
| causes include drunk driving, driver negligence and | | | | radio or CD players. Also, it is said that using cellular |
| distraction, and over-speeding. These causes are also | | | | phones while driving more than triples the risk of |
| associated with fatal car crashes and high speed | | | | getting into a car accident. |
| collisions that do relatively greater damage than other | | | | #3: Over-Speeding and High Speed Collisions |
| types of accidents. All these common auto accident | | | | Over-speeding is a very dangerous offense; |
| causes show us that the problem is not due to the | | | | unfortunately, it is also one that most drivers take for |
| lack of road or vehicle safety measures, but in the | | | | granted. A lot of people think that over-speeding is a |
| drivers themselves. | | | | minor driver offense. The truth is, speeding is more |
| #1: Drunk Driving | | | | dangerous because higher speeds means you don't |
| Drunk driving is currently the number one perpetrator | | | | have much time to prevent an accident when you see |
| behind auto accidents. Organizations such as Mothers | | | | one about to happen. Also, because of greater |
| Against Drunk Driving have been working to prevent | | | | velocity, impacts are stronger and the crashes are |
| drunk driving from claiming the lives of drivers, other | | | | more severe. In fact, most speeding crashes have |
| motorists, innocent passengers, and pedestrians. The | | | | been linked to fatalities. |
| scary truth is that drunk drivers endanger anyone on | | | | The Dangers of Highways and Freeways |
| the road, not just their own lives and those of their | | | | According to auto accident statistics, the site of the |
| passengers. | | | | most common accidents are the highways and |
| According to 2004 records, the NHTSA estimated one | | | | freeways. The United States has a lot of highways |
| death every thirty minutes due to alcohol-related car | | | | and freeways wherein most motorists travel at high |
| accidents. And in 2003, 30% of fatal car crashes were | | | | speeds, making it a breeding ground for highly |
| caused by drunk driving cases. In general, drunk driving | | | | dangerous car crashes. The most fatal crashes also |
| also accounts for 50% of fatal crashes that occur | | | | often occur on such roads. |
| during weekends. And seeing as how even celebrities | | | | Do: Be a responsible and careful driver. |
| have become caught up in DUI charges recently, it is | | | | Don't: Don't take driving for granted. Remember that |
| safe to say that drunk driving is still the number one | | | | as a driver, you are not just holding your life in your |
| killer on the roads these days. | | | | hands. You also become responsible for your |
| #2: Driver Negligence | | | | passengers and for the safety of the entire road for |
| The second most common accidents cause is driver | | | | other motorists. |