Major Causes of Road Accidents in Houston and the rest of the USA

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and over 37,000 people die in road crashes every year. Additionally, road accidents cost the United States approximately $230.6 billion annually or an average of $820 per person.

Currently, most accidents in the United States occur in Texas, with motor vehicle fatalities totaling up to 3,722. Texas is followed by California, with Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina rounding up the top five states with the most motor vehicle fatalities.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports that the leading causes of road accidental collisions and deaths are the inability to keep a hold on speed, negligent driving behavior, and not driving in a proper lane.

According to reviews from Dmvedu Traffic School, car accidents have decreased over the past three years, while the increase in deadly accidents due to motorbikes has rapidly increased. Injuries due to high-velocity vehicles such as cars and bikes are more likely to be fatal than any other automobile. If you’re in Houston and find yourself amid a road accident, you should file a police report immediately and monitor the Houston traffic accident reports, regularly checking the progress and any updates of yours.

These accidents are largely caused by human error, and while most of them are minor accidents, many road crashes also result in deaths. Here are nine of the most common causes of road accidents in the United States:

Inattentive drivers:

Inattentive and distracted drivers are the first and foremost cause of road accidents anywhere. The most common cause of distraction is using mobile phones while driving. Mobile phone usage while driving is frequent for young and teenage drivers. In 2018, the number of car accidents caused by cell phones in the U.S. was 4,637, with 25 percent of all car accidents involving the use of a cell phone.

Driving while drunk:

Driving under the influence of alcohol is also an unfortunate cause of a large number of road accidents in Texas. In 2017, there were approximately 1,046 people killed in motor vehicle accidents where a driver was intoxicated. This number is 28 percent of the total number of people killed in vehicle crashes. The best way to prevent such a situation would always be to avoid driving if you've been drinking and, instead, call a cab or ask a friend to drop you off.

Inability to control speeding:

It is undeniable that the faster a vehicle moves, the more time it requires to keep itself safe from a crash. Similarly, a more considerable distance is needed to lessen the speed of high-speed vehicles. In many unfortunate circumstances, drivers find themselves in situations where they're unable to control the force of the impact caused by speeding.

Fatigued drivers:

Many times, road accidents are caused as a result of driving by tired drivers. While such cases are not as common, they still occur. A sleepy or tired driver's judgment is often impaired due to the lack of sleep, thereby increasing the risk of a crash due to failure to respond to stimuli.

Tailgating:

Many teenagers have a dangerous and restless habit of driving too close to the vehicle before them. Many rear-end accidents lead to head trauma and neck or spinal injuries and are primarily caused by tailgating or following another car close to it. Such tailgating gives the other person almost no chance to save themselves or others, resulting in a life-threatening crash. Hence, keeping a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles is always advised to allow all parties considerable time to respond to sudden turns or apply brakes and lessen their speed when necessary.

Poorly maintained, uneven, and bumpy roads:

Often, road accidents are caused by poor maintenance of roads, leading to pits, bumps, and irregular structures. Such accidents are often a result of state negligence and, thereby, underreported. When the lack of maintenance is the leading cause of issues, the government will likely compensate any affected parties involved in an accident. The only thing you can do when facing a bumpy road is always to be careful with your speed and control.

Driving at Night:

Accidents caused by driving in the dark are also among the leading causes of road accidents. Frequently driving through roads without street lights is unavoidable, and, as a result, lack of visibility to notice a vehicle or a person passing by results in a crash. It is recommended to be extra vigilant and always keep your lights turned on to full beams while passing over such roads at night.

Defects in the automobile:

Sometimes, the owners of the vehicles themselves are not aware of the hidden flaws in their cars, which becomes the cause of severe accidents on roads. These defects include issues in the steering wheel, braking, and ignition systems, tires, or the airbags of the automobile. Crashes as a result of these defective automobiles have far more severe effects than due to any other cause. Additionally, using poorly constructed cars and self-driving cars causes deadly consequences. In both cases, it is the manufacturing company that is to be held accountable and compensated for the crash.

Taking improper turns:

There is no doubt that all of us have the potential to make mistakes at times. Sometimes, accidents are caused due to a lack of training and uninformed decision-making. Many people avoid traffic signals by taking hasty moves and getting out of their lane impatiently to turn over another road or pathway. This impatience often results in a collision, causing severely damaging impacts. Thus, it is always advisable to be patient and follow the signals in your lane to avoid such scenarios.

What other issues could cause car accidents, and how can they be avoided? Let us know in the comments below.