Car crashes or motor vehicle collisions can occur at any location and at any time of day. Even drivers who make safety their top priority could be at risk if they cross paths with a drunk or distracted driver. Some collisions are minor. They produce aesthetic damage to the vehicles and little else.
Other crashes are far more severe. They put people in the hospital, total vehicles or result in people dying. Certain details about a collision can significantly increase the likelihood of a poor outcome. When motorists are aware of what factors may increase their risks, they can make more educated decisions about their conduct in traffic.
What factors put people at elevated risk of major property damage or injuries in the event of a collision?
Excessive speed
Most drivers admit to speeding at least occasionally. Many people find speed limits frustrating. They habitually exceed the speed limit by five miles per hour, sometimes even more than that. Higher speeds mean less time to react to changing traffic conditions and more momentum in the event of a crash. The tragic reality is that 29% of all fatal crashes involve at least one vehicle speeding. The faster that vehicles travel, the worse the crash may be.
Discrepancies in vehicle size
Decades ago, most people drove sedans or coupes. These days, the roads are full of pickup trucks, vans, SUVs and crossover vehicles. If those larger passenger vehicles collide with a compact car, the smaller vehicle may sustain major damage. Its occupants may be at elevated risk of injury or death. That same basic premise applies to collisions that involve a passenger vehicle and a commercial vehicle, such as an 18-wheeler. The bigger the difference in size, the greater the risk for the smaller vehicle.
Safety restraint use
Technically, those in the front seats of a vehicle have an obligation to wear safety restraints. Drivers also typically need to ensure that any passengers under the age of 18 also use their safety restraints. Despite the law, many people do not consistently use their seat belts. They may choose not to use them when making a short trip to the local store, for example. Others only use them in locations where they expect to encounter police officers and may not use them when on rural roads.
Unfortunately, the failure to use safety restraints can turn a moderate car crash into a tragic one. If the force of the crash is enough to eject people from a vehicle, then the injuries that they sustain could be far worse than the injuries that they may have experienced while restrained inside the vehicle. Drivers can’t control how other people behave or who is on the road with them. They can control their own vehicle’s speed, monitor larger vehicles carefully and embrace the use of their safety restraints.
Understanding what contributes to car crash risk can help people make better choices in traffic. Proper preparation ahead of time can also help people respond more effectively after a crash occurs as well.