Factors That Affect Traffic Accidents
Traffic accidents refer to vehicles colliding with another vehicle, a pedestrian, an animal, or a geographical or architectural obstacle.
In 2008 alone, there were 43,313 fatalities were reported in the United States.
Traffic accidents can either lead to injuries, fatalities, property damage or all of the mentioned results.
There are three possible factors that could lead to a traffic collision, those are:
• Driver behavior
• Road design
• Vehicle design and maintenance
DRIVER BEHAVIOR
Driver behavior has been the leading cause of traffic accidents in the United States. Different negligent acts like drunk-driving, speeding and reckless driving has led to numerous tragedies on the road.
A speed research documented by the US Department of Transportations Federal Highway Administration, reviews the different effects of speeding to a vehicle and the driver.
Here is a summary of the findings:
• The risk of having a crash increases for both vehicles travelling slower than the average speed and those driving above the average speed.
• The risk of injury increases with speeds higher than the median speed.
• The amount of damage in a crash depends on the speed change of the vehicle upon impact.
• Evidence suggests that lower speed limits results in lower speeds on a system wide basis.
• Most crashes related to speed involves vehicles moving too fast for the current conditions (road, weather).
Aside from speeding, DUI is another driver behavior that usually leads to a traffic accident.
According to studies:
• DUI is the leading cause of traffic accidents in the US. In fact, it accounts for about 41 percent of all fatalities that is related to traffic accidents.
• Half of all holiday traffic accidents are DUI related.
• Most people who are caught for DUI are not even alcoholics.
• About 30 percent of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol related traffic accident sometime during their lifetime.
ROAD DESIGN
A US study shows that roadways or its environment are contributing factors in about 34% of all traffic accidents although most of them are also caused by human factors.
Road or environment factors may refer to a sudden turn that can cause a vehicle to turn over, or a narrow road that leaves little room for a driver to recover.
Research has shown that careful design and maintenance which includes well designed intersections, road surfaces, visibility, and traffic control devices, should result in the decrease of traffic accident rates.
VEHICLE DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE
A vehicle with a good design and is well maintained is more controllable in case of emergency and is much more likely to avoid a collision or lessen the impact.
The designs of vehicles in terms of safety have also improved as driven by competition between competing brands. Some of the safety features that have been developed through the years are seatbelts, airbags and safety cages.
However, there is also a rise on the number of rollovers because of the increasing popularity of SUVs.
SUVs, people carriers and minivans all have a higher center of gravity compared to a normal sedan which increases the possibility of rollover.
SUV manufacturers are currently working on designing SUVs that would lessen the risk of rollovers.
Our personal injury attorneys are experienced in handling traffic accidents case involving all types of vehicles. For consultation, log on to our website and avail of our free case evaluation.
