Road Rage, Distracted Driving And Driver Fatigue The Insidious Contributors To Daily Car Crashes
Accidents in the trucking industry claim thousands of lives every year.
Any responsible vehicle owner can talk about the dozens of different safety tactics they employ every time they step behind the wheel, but truckers have another responsibility entirely due to the nature of their cargo. The vast majority of all truck accidents involve at least one fatality and the roads are only getting more dangerous from here. Personal injury attorneys are deeply familiar with the domino effect following a truck crash as well as the means of preventing them. Learn more about what you can do to create safer driving by reading below.
The United States is home to its own unique statistics when it comes to car accidents, motorcycle crashes and multiple truck pile-ups. An estimated six million car crashes happen every year, with some causes rising to the top as major contributors these past few decades. Distracted driving, for starters, claimed nearly 3,500 lives in 2015, while drunk driving still lays claim to over one-third of all traffic-related accidents according to the CDC. Whether or not your insurance can cover you in an accident is important to consider, but so is prevention and safety.
Drunk driving rises and dips throughout the year, but it remains a steady constant on the open road and a regular hazard for both drivers and passerbys. The three most common causes of car accidents in the country are distracted driving, speeding and drunk driving. Drunk driving is denoted not just through the consumption of alcohol, but attempting to operate a vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs or over-the-counter medication. Every single day sees over 25 people dying in motor vehicle crashes involving some form of alcohol.
Distracted driving is also seeing a rise in awareness. It’s estimated over 660,000 people will attempt to use cellphones while driving during daylight hours, though these are not the only distractions that can compromise an otherwise safe journey. Attempting to talk on the phone, change the radio dial or eat food can take away precious reaction time from a sudden stop, putting countless people at risk for injury or even death. When it comes to semi-trucks, accidents in the trucking industry are often astronomical and can be felt for years to come.
Accidents in the trucking industry are starting to reach epidemic levels. With so many deaths caused by multiple truck pile-ups, it’s more important than ever to dig to the root of these occurrences if we’re to save lives in the future. The vast majority of all semi-truck accidents result in at least one fatality, with around 60% of fatal semi-truck accidents involving a trailer. According to a recent study published by the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety, aggressive driving plays a significant role in 60% of all fatal traffic accidents. Also known as ‘road rage’, this is an element that can be taken into consideration when contacting a truck wreck attorney.
With drunk driving and distracted driving topping many lists as the most frequent contributors to car crashes, it’s easy to overlook more insidious factors. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found driver fatigue to be a factor in nearly 15% of all accidents. Another study by the U.S. Department Of Transportation found 20% of all semi-truck accidents being caused by the driver moving too quickly for current road conditions. Just a brief moment of oversight can mean the difference between a safe arrival and a deadly consequence.
Every time you step behind the wheel you are faced with the possibility of a crash. Whether it’s caused by vehicle negligence or influenced by road rage, you maintain the steady responsibility of keeping yourself aware at all times to reduce accidents in the trucking industry.
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