Nobody gets on the road thinking they will get into a car accident. Still, over 3,700 people die every day on the roads globally.
Car accidents can result from countless causes, with some causes being more common than others. Unfortunately, many of the fatalities registered on the roads daily could be avoidable if everyone on the road chose to drive with safety in mind.
If you are keen on staying safe while on the road, here are some common causes of accidents in Missouri that you should be aware of and how to avoid them.
1. Speeding
Speeding is one of the common causes of tragic road accidents. According to statistics, speeding kills 9,000 Americans yearly and 300 in Missouri alone.
Speeding doesn’t always mean going over the posted speed limit. It can also mean driving at a speed that is not relative to the road conditions. While you may not control how others choose to drive, you can always ensure that you are safe by driving within the posted speed limit or lowering speed in adverse weather conditions.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in an accident caused by a speeding driver, you should consider getting an attorney. The good news is that you’re in the position of hiring a lawyer even when you may not have money on you. That’s because most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis where you only pay after winning the case and recover your damages.
2. Drunk Driving
Approximately 29 people die daily on American roads due to driving while under the influence of alcohol. The legal limit for Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) in most states is 0.08%. In other states, the limit is 0.05% for adults aged 21 and above and a BAC of 0.01% for persons under 21.
According to studies, alcohol impairment can start long before a person reaches the BAC limit. So, if you plan on having drinks, it is important to ensure that you have a designated non-drinking driver with you or take a taxi.
You could be careful to remain alcohol-free when on the road, but not everyone is. So you will also need to look out for drunk drivers and avoid them. To determine if a driver is intoxicated, you must observe other drivers’ behavior when on the road, such as disorderly conduct, erratic driving, and swerving in and out of a lane.
3. Distracted Driving
Distracted driving means being in control of a moving vehicle while your mind, eyes, or hands are engaged in anything other than driving. In 2020 over 3,100 people lost their lives on American roads due to distracted driving.
The most common distractions are those that get your eyes and hands off operating a vehicle, such as talking on the phone, texting or reading a message, changing radio channels, adjusting your mirrors, etc.
You must be intentional in your driving while on the road to avoid accidents related to distracted driving. For example, you must put your phone on silent mode, tune your car radio to your favorite channel, and adjust your mirrors before getting on the road.
4. Failing to Yield Way
The majority of car accidents occur at intersections. Often intersection accidents occur because one driver refuses to yield the right of way to whom it is due. A good example is when a driver chooses to drive through an intersection while the red light says stop.
Many drivers try to jump the light, especially when it is yellow and about to go red. Unfortunately, other drivers on the other end could have the same idea, meaning they could enter an intersection simultaneously, causing an accident.
Staying clear of intersection accidents calls for yielding right of way when you should and never assuming that the other driver will, so you may want to look out for drivers jumping the light.
