It’s common to know someone who’s been injured in a car crash. That’s because each year, cars severely injure millions of people. Car accidents have surged despite fewer travelers using the roads. If your loved one was injured or killed in a Florida car accident, contact a Jacksonville car accident lawyer today.
Car Accident Statistics
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that deaths from car accidents increased from 39,107 in 2019 to 42,060 people in 2020. Car accident numbers are staggering, and being involved in one can be equally devastating.
Car Deaths Per Year
Each year more than 1.35 million people die in automobile accidents. That equates to more than 3,700 deaths each day. Car crashes are one of the top ten leading causes of death globally.
Distracted driving, a preventable accident, is the leading cause of accidents and causes almost 50% of all crashes.
The latest data shows that road traffic accidents have risen from 9th to 8th place on the table of the top leading killers worldwide. However, age matters because traffic fatalities are the leading cause of death for people ages 5–29. Automobile accidents are the second leading cause of death for children ages 5–14.
Traffic fatalities are preventable. Practicing safety, using restraint, and minimizing distractions can help you protect yourself and others. Considering that half of all young people involved in car accidents weren’t wearing a seat belt.
Less Traffic Led To More Fatal Car Accidents
Risky driving behavior is one of the leading causes of accidents. Although fewer people were on the road, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that there were 28,190 traffic deaths from January to September of 2020, up from 26,941 during the same period in 2019.
Most Fatal Driving Days
According to driving data on days of the week, Saturday travelers are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal accident. There are an average of 1,015 fatalities from midnight to 3 AM, with 1,015 fatal accidents and 1,001 from 6 PM until 9 PM. There are more than 6,100 total crashes recorded on Saturdays.
Urban Versus Rural Road Danger
Although many drivers believe urban areas are more dangerous, data shows that the difference in fatal crashes is much slighter. Location plays a huge role in rural traffic fatalities. Rural states like Montana show more rural accidents versus Washington D.C., which has 0% rural fatalities.
Poor Conditioned Roads
Negligent drivers may not cause all automobile accidents, especially considering that poorly-maintained roads account for roughly 50 percent of all motor vehicle accidents. The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation released a study demonstrating how road issues cause more than 42,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Poor road conditions cause accidents. If you’ve been injured due to poor highway conditions, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the government agency that is responsible for properly maintaining the roads or highway where your vehicle collision occurred.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) reports that one out of every five miles of American highway pavements is in “poor condition.” If these roads have increasing needs for repairs and rehabilitation, they will continue to contribute to the growing road safety issues. Poor road conditions lead to traffic congestion, fuel waste, and traffic-related deaths.
Leading Causes of Traffic Fatalities
Out of the 15 million licensed drivers in Florida, there are more than 350,000 traffic crashes each year. Read on for the most common causes of traffic crashes and how to prevent them.
Speeding
If drivers choose not to follow the speed limit, it significantly increases their likelihood of being involved in a crash. Speeding makes it harder for drivers to turn, gives a driverless reaction time, and presents a danger to other travelers.
Failing to Obey Traffic Laws
Failing to come to a full stop, speeding, running red lights, and not yielding to the right of way have led to horrifying traffic fatalities. Traffic laws were created to protect commuters from side-impact and t-bone collisions. These are some of the worst accidents and lead to serious injuries or fatalities.
Distracted Driving
In Florida, it’s illegal to text and drive. Nine Americans are involved in fatal crashes each day due to texting and driving. The National Safety Council found that cell phone usage while behind the wheel leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. About 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.
Eating and drinking, talking to other vehicle inhabitants, adjusting your radio or navigation system, and corralling pets have led to traffic accidents and fatalities.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving impairs a person’s ability to react. If someone is driving under the influence of alcohol, it can affect their ability to focus on the road. Drunk drivers will have trouble monitoring their speed while staying in their lane and looking for hazards. Alcohol-related crashes lead to about 10,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Sleeping At the Wheel
A report found that at least 1 in 25 adults admitted to feeling sleepy at the wheel. Not getting enough sleep before getting behind the wheel puts all travelers at risk. Sleepy drivers suffer similar impairments in their judgment as drunk drivers. They have slower reaction times and find difficulty paying attention to the road.
Reducing How Many People Die In Car Accidents
Many accidents and traffic fatalities are preventable. Reducing speeding and distractions while following the laws can help reduce these preventable deaths. Controlling speeds on roads is the most important goal of any car safety strategy.
Some communities have committed to eliminating car fatalities by installing speed cameras and testing traffic calming measures, like these posts installed at dangerous turns. Installing roundabouts instead of traditional intersections has also been effective at saving lives in US rural areas. Traffic deaths have also been reduced with the addition of medians and central turning lanes.
Road diets that add complexity to roads by removing traffic lanes, creating central turn lanes, and adding features like bike lanes and shoulders have slowed down traffic and contributed to reduced fatalities.
