Car accidents occur on a daily basis throughout the US. While defensive driving and use of seat belts helps to minimize accident-related injuries, not all occurrences can be prevented.
Accidents sometimes involve a single vehicle, particularly in cases of tire blowouts and vehicle rollovers. Other accidents are commonly a result of drunk or distracted driving. As of July 2013, Florida drivers are prohibited from texting while a vehicle is in motion.
Infographic of Auto Accident Statistics
12 Auto Accident & Injury Statistics
- Nearly 37,000 traffic accident fatalities occur in the US each year
- 1,600 are children under 15 years of age
- 8,000 fatalities involve drivers ages 16 to 20
- In addition to fatalities, auto accidents injure or disable 2.35 million people each year
- Over the past decade, deaths in teen drivers fell by over 50%, while deaths in passengers ages 16-19 dropped nearly 60%
- Most years, November is the month in which motor vehicle accidents peak
- In 2012, traffic accident fatalities were at an all-time 60 year low (lowest since 1949), indicating that driver-safety campaigns may be working
- Nearly 51% of fatalities could have been prevented if a seatbelt had been worn
- Drunk and distracted driving are the leading causes of all car accidents in the US
- 10,000 fatalities from drunk driving
- 3,000 deaths and serious injuries from distracted driving (texting/phone use)
- Reading or typing a text message occupies a minimum of 5 seconds of a driver’s attention – at 55mph, that timeframe covers the length of a football field (nearly 300 feet)
- One in five drivers admits to having browsed the internet via smartphone while driving
- Most accidents and related fatalities occur on Friday or Saturday, with the majority of collisions occurring between 3:00A and 5:00A
- In Florida, auto accidents have decreased by nearly 30,000 occurrences since 2005, with fatal crashes down by almost one third
- The leading cause of Florida car crashes (fatal and non-fatal) is operating a motor-vehicle carelessly or negligently (includes drunk/distracted driving), with the second leading cause is a failure to yield the right of way
6 Safety Tips – Preventing Auto Accidents and Injuries
The Florida Department of Transportation recommends regularly exercising a few basic safe driving practices in order to keep accidents and resulting injuries/fatalities on the decline:
- Abstain from texting at any time while driving. Only talk on the phone using a headset, blue-tooth or similar hand-free device
- Always wear a seat belt
- Never operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription drugs with sedating qualities or side effects
- Drive defensively and yield the right of way. When in doubt, allow the other car to proceed ahead of you
- Increase your following distance by 4-6 car-lengths in adverse weather conditions such as heavy Florida rains during summer and early fall months and reduce speed. Engage the hazard lights in minimal to zero visibility conditions to help other drivers see your car
- Always use a height/weight appropriate safety seat for all children small enough to meet the size requirements. Children age 12 and under should always ride in the back seat.
References:
Association for Safe Int’l Road Travel
