Topmost common reasons for Car Accidents in Australia

• Car Advice,
• Mar 21, 2020

When it comes to car accidents, you’re never sure how it happened or why it happened. Car accidents are one of the most common reasons people die and/or are injured per year. The causes of car accidents may seem endless since there are many possibilities that cause a car to collide. It can either be the driver’s fault or fault in the car. Either way, these car accidents have left many people traumatized or seriously physically injured. Which is why traffic rules are especially stressed upon.

 

When it comes to countries like Australia, the risk of car accidents increases. There are different types of car accidents. If we look at the Statistics. The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development has shown serious damage done in 2015. In 2015, there were about 1205 road deaths across Australia. In addition to that, in 2016 this number increased to 1300, which is nearly 8% more than the previous year.

 

According to the manager of National Road Safety Partnership Program, Jerome Carslake, the most common reasons why these accidents occur so frequently in Australia are Speeding, use of Drugs/Alcohol, Fatigue, Distraction and Using Mobile phones

Moving forward, if we think about the money being consumed on the patients who have been traumatized by accidents. Carslake says “60-70 percent of the patient’s trauma surgeons treat have been involved in road accidents. Road crashes cost Australia $27-30 billion per year – or $70 million per day, which is the same as the National Defence Budget,” if people just realize that safe driving is essential, all this money can be saved and spent somewhere better.

 

Let’s move on to the reasons why car accidents are so common, especially in Australia. Following are the most common reasons for car accidents in Australia:

 

Speeding:

One of the most common reasons for road accidents in Australia is Speeding. There’s a reason why there’s a speed limit for when you’re driving. If you exceed the limit or are driving too fast, you can lose control of your vehicle and in return, meet a car accident. People assume that they have complete control over the car because of their experience and tend to exceed the limit out of overconfidence. This type of behavior causes, even an experienced driver, to lose control over the car.

However, don’t confuse Speeding with Overspeed. People who drive slower than the speeding limit have been known to engage in a lot of accidents as well. The reason is that, if a car is traveling at just 60 km/h, it takes almost 40 meters to come to stop. In this time, any object it impacts before it stops will result in a potentially serious accident.

 

Prevention from accidents because of speeding:

There are things you can do to prevent yourself from being damaged either emotionally or physically from a car accident. Here’s a list of things you can do to avoid accidents caused by speeding:

 ✓ Lower the car speed at night or during bad weathers

 ✓ Stay within the speed limit

 ✓ Reduce speed in areas with pedestrians

 ✓ Frequently follow the traffic rules

If you follow all of these above and drive your vehicle how you’re suppose you, you can be saved from getting yourself into a huge accident.

 

Use of Drugs/Alcohol:

“Don’t drive while drinking” is one of the most common slogans used on driveways or generally roads. The first thing you learn when you start driving is to drive when you’re completely conscious. When it comes to any sort of drug consumption that makes you out-of-sorts should be avoided at any cost when you’re taking control of a vehicle.

 

If you’re wondering why does consuming alcohol reduces your driving ability and increases the risk of accidents. Here’s why; A blood alcohol level that is as low as 0.04 will impact the driver’s reflexes, coordination, muscle control, and mood. Which, in return can cause the driver to lose control over the car. Furthermore, if you increase your alcohol consumption during this time, you will slowly start to lose your eyesight which would cause blurred vision, color impairment and reduced light sensitivity.

 

Statistics:

If we talk about the stats on how many people die due to drunk driving or driving after taking an unprescribed drug, here’s the analysis:

 ✓ In 2016, about 1 million people met an accident while driving drunk, out of which, 28% of people died during those accidents.

 ✓ In 2019, the same cause increased by 1%, causing the total to increase to 29% of deaths in one-year caused due to alcohol consumption

 

Prevention:

There are a few things you can do to avoid car accidents or drunk driving. For starters, don’t drive if you’re drunk. Other than that, here’s what you can do:

 ✓ Book a ride before going to a party

 ✓ Have a sober friend take care of you after you’re drunk

 ✓ Don’t take your car when you know you’re going to consume alcohol somewhere

 ✓ If you absolutely have to drive and you’re drunk, always wear a seat belt. Now wearing seat belts can increase the risk of serious injury or even death.

 ✓ f you’re hosting a party, make sure your drunk guests leave with a sober driver

 

If the above-mentioned things are followed correctly, you might save yourself and people around you from a major accident risk.

 

Distraction:

If you’re a new driver, you’re not used to the roads or handling the car without being completely conscious, avoid any kind of distraction. Even if you’re an experienced driver, you should keep your eyes and attention on the road. The question that arises here is what kind of distractions are being talked about here. Distraction can be of any kind;

 ✓ Using your phone while driving

 ✓ Talking to someone

 ✓ Eating while driving

 ✓ Not having your eyes on the road

 ✓ Loud music

One of the most common causes of car accidents while being distracted these days is texting. Technology has made its way through our minds. However, unfortunately, we have not been taught to not text while we’re supposed to be concentrating on the road.

 

Prevention:

 ✓ Avoid engaging in a serious conversation/fight when you’re driving

 ✓ Do not use your cell phone at any cost. If you have a message that you need to respond to, park your car somewhere and then rely on.

 ✓ Avoid playing loud music when you’re driving, it may not distract you but it can prevent you from listening to vehicles around you

 

Basically, anything that causes you to take your eyes off the road or mind somewhere else can cause you some serious damage and it needs to be taken care of.

There’s always the right way to drive and a wrong way to drive. Reckless driving is the wrong way and it should be avoided at any cost when it comes to safety. Most of the accidents are caused during the night drive because there isn’t enough light at that time.