TOP CAUSES OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS-

TOP CAUSES OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Road traffic accident can lead to several unwanted consequences, including death, permanent injuries, Hospitalization and loss of earnings, etc. We must do everything we can to avoid a road traffic accident.

While some of these road traffic accident causes may seem obvious and redundant to experienced drivers, the list below aims to educate all levels of drivers, from the teenage driver who just got his license, to the senior driver with very many years’ experience behind the wheel. Learning to drive a car takes many instructional hours behind the wheel, especially if that driver wants to avoid causing automobile accidents The causes of Road traffic accidents listed in this write-up is by no means exhaustive and is in no specific order but it help you drive safely and stay alive for your loved ones.

1. Design Defects

No product is ever made perfectly, and cars are no different. Automobiles have hundreds of parts, and any of those defective parts can cause a serious car accident. Many automakers have had problems with design defects in the past, including Ford Explorer rollover accidents and Toyota’s unintended acceleration crashes.

2. Distracted Driving

One of the major causes of car accidents is Distracted Drivers. They are the top cause of Road traffic accidents in Nigeria. A distracted driver is a motorist that diverts his or her attention from the road, usually to talk on a cell phone, send a text message or eat food., smoke or commit lookery on a lady with skimpy dress  and that without a bra.

  3. Over Speeding

 Many drivers go on lightning speed on our roads as if they are being pursued by car snatcher.. Speed kills, and traveling above certain speed is an easy way to cause a RT accident. The faster you drive, the slower your reaction time will be if you need to prevent an accident. A higher speed increases the likelihood of an accident. Very strong relationships have been established between speed and accident risk: The general relationship holds for all speeds and all roads, but the rate of increase in accident risk varies with initial speed level and road type. Large speed differences at a road also increase the likelihood of an accident. In addition, drivers driving much faster than the average driver have a higher accident risk;

 4. Drunk Driving

When you are tipsy, you lose the ability to focus and function properly and its very dangerous when operating a vehicle. Driving under the influence of alcohol causes car accidents every day. Even when this is one of the top causes of  RTA that can be avoided; strong drinks are being hawked in our Nations’ motor parks.

5. Reckless Driving

That’s what often happens to reckless drivers drive at high speed, change lanes too quickly or tailgate before causing a car accident. Reckless drivers are often impatient in traffic so be sure to take extra care around aggressive drivers. These men do not drive carefully, and almost always end up in a needless car accident.

 6. Unsafe Lane Changes

There will always come a time where you need to get over to another lane (i.e. exit from a freeway, get in the correct lane to make a turn, etc.). When drivers don’t make lane changes properly, it often leads to a car accident. To prevent a needless car accident, use your turn signal, check your blind spots and always proceed carefully into the next lane.

7.  Rain

If the weather gets bad so do the roads. Car accidents happen very often in the rain because water creates slick and dangerous surfaces for cars, trucks, and motorcycles and often causes automobiles to spin out of control or skid while braking. The brakes become less efficient in the rain and flooded roads. To avoid a car accident, drive extra careful when it rains.

  8. Running Red Lights

Obey the traffic lights where they are working. When you’re driving your car, red means stop and not doing so usually leads to car accidents. Drivers that run red lights, run the risk of causing wrongful death because they often cause side-impact collisions at high speeds. To avoid a car accident, look both ways for oncoming cars as you approach a green light.

 9. Running Stop Signs

Stop signs should never be ignored, but when they are, serious car accidents are often the result. Each year, thousands of car accidents occur because one driver ran a stop sign. Many rollover accidents and side-impact car accidents result from drivers that run stop signs. You should always look both ways when proceeding through a stop sign.

 10. Teenage Drivers

Youth is strong, unfortunately, teenagers are not often known for their carefulness while driving. To them nothing is impossible and they even feel they are immortal as such they carry the strength too far by driving any how. When teen drivers hit the roads they don’t always know what to do and that lack of experience ends up causing car accidents.

 11. Night Driving

Driving in the daylight can be hazardous, but driving at night nearly doubles the risk of a car accident occurring. When you can’t see what’s up ahead you don’t know what to anticipate as you drive towards it. As the sun goes down, your awareness of the road and cars around you must go up. What if you have a breakdown while driving at night, or drive into a stationary vehicle? Night driving should be avoided as much as possible.

  12. Wrong-Way Driving

It is becoming very common to see VIP vehicles and Police car running against the traffic and that at very high speed. Many people have been maimed by these squads in an attempt to avoid loss of time due to traffic.  Sometimes one may turn down a street thinking it is a normal right turn, when in actuality, it is a one-way street in the opposite direction. Whoever you are, when you go the wrong way, everyone is in danger because as you are heading deliberately towards a road traffic accident.

 (to be continued)