Unsafe driving practices, poor road design, and bad weather are leading causes of highway accidents and deaths. Drunk, distracted, and angry drivers, as well as dangerous road design, also contribute to fatal accidents. Proper use of safety features in vehicles can prevent fatalities.
Unsafe driving practices and poor road design and conditions are among the leading causes of highway accidents and deaths. Drunk driving and under the influence are both leading causes of accidents and deaths. Distracted driving is an increasingly serious problem and causes a considerable number of fatal accidents. Flaws in the design of highways can make safe driving more difficult, and bad weather conditions can make vehicles unsafe and highways safer as well. The inability of motorists to use safety features in their vehicles is also a major problem, as accidents where this occurs are more likely to be fatal.
Drunk or disabled motorists cause many fatalities on the highway every year. Excessive alcohol consumption renders drivers largely incapable of operating motor vehicles, but even a modest amount of alcohol will reduce the driver’s ability to respond to changing traffic conditions. Many other chemicals, some legal and some illegal, impair a driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and cause fatal highway crashes. Simple exhaustion has a similar effect on a driver’s ability to focus and make decisions.
Distractions are another common cause of fatal road accidents. Activities ranging from eating to using a vehicle’s audio system can take the driver’s attention away from the road and increase the chances of a fatal accident. The use of a cell phone, especially for sending text messages, has a serious impact on a driver’s ability to avoid accidents. Angry drivers are also a problem, as they tend to make unsafe driving decisions.
Many traffic accidents are caused by dangerous road design. In some situations, roads simply cannot be built in a way that ensures driver safety. Blind junctions, sharp turns, and narrow or missing shoulders are hazards that make driving more dangerous. Civil engineers try to minimize such hazards, but in many cases, roads must be built across geographic features that make perfect safety impossible.
Accidents and road fatalities are often linked to severe weather conditions. Rain, snow and ice make driving more challenging, both by reducing visibility and by making vehicles less responsive. Cautious and defensive driving can minimize these risks but cannot eliminate them entirely.
A typical modern car is equipped with many safety devices, and using these devices correctly can prevent fatal accidents on the highway. Seat belts must be worn by adults at all times and airbag systems must be checked and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Children must be seated in appropriate safety seats. Motorists who ignore these safety features and systems are not more likely to be involved in accidents, but they are much more likely to die in an accident.
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