Car Accident Articles and Statistics
Statistics show that 70% of auto accidents are completely preventable. The driver who causes the accident is simply distracted or irresponsible and is not paying enough attention to the road. The truth is anything can cause you to be distracted from the road; reaching for food or drink, changing the radio station, talking to passengers, texting, or even reading a map or GPS. As a driver, one needs to realize that one has a responsibility to one’s passengers and everyone on the road around oneself to be a safe, observant, and careful driver. In one of my articles, a 19-year-old was driving three 15-year-olds in his car. He was drunk and he was involved in a one car accident. Because of this, one of his passengers died. This accident was completely preventable. If the driver had been more responsible, he would have not driven while intoxicated or have even consumed alcohol in the first place. On April 12th, 2011, a 23-year-old was traveling at least 100 mph before he crashed. This driver was on a motorcycle and died from the accident. This could have been prevented if the motorcyclist would have just reduced his speeds to a safer one. The driver could have saved his own life if he had just slowed down a bit. In another article, a man was standing in the street trying to get a good look at a shuttle launch. This man was 70-years-old and died hours after the crash. The man should have not been standing in the street, but drivers were already distracted by the shuttle launch. The drivers could have yielded and stopped for him seeing that he was elderly. The driver should have expected the unexpected. In Davenport, a young 9-year-old boy was hit at a cross walk when a 19-year-old Lindsey Fox when she had a green light. Ms. Fox could have prevented the accident by being more observant and making sure there were no more pedestrians on the cross walk before she kept going. Then, after striking the boy, she left the scene. The boy was severely injured, he had a broken right ankle and another injury to his left leg. Fox was found and arrested for leaving the scene, driving under suspension, and not having insurance. Fox could have prevented all of this. Most of these articles occurred late morning and early afternoon. I believe this is because there are less people out during these hours and more at work. I think drivers think they can be more relaxed during these times and they pay attention less. In most of my articles the accidents were caused by males, most likely because males are more reckless and aggressive drivers. Also, most of the accidents were mainly caused by the driver being distracted. Speeding, being intoxicated, or running a red light are all bad, but a large part of keeping yourself and passengers safe is being reliable and responsible and make sure your full attention is given to your surrounding drivers. Keep your eyes on the road and do not give the right-a-way to distractions.