Driving Hazards
A hazard is a source of danger. When driving, it forces you to change your speed or steering to avoid a collision. To say that driving can be dangerous is an understatement. Over 90% of the vehicles involved in fatal car accidents are passenger cars or light trucks (vans, SUVs, or pickup trucks).
Every accident, no matter how minor, takes a toll on life.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the top 10 unsafe driving practices causing vehicle fatalities in recent years include the following:
- Speeding: Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions, reducing the driver's ability to react and increasing the severity of crashes.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, significantly impairing judgment, reaction times, and motor skills.
- Distracted Driving: Engaging in activities like texting, talking on the phone, eating, or using in-car technologies that take attention away from driving.
- Reckless Driving: Deliberate and aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, or ignoring traffic signals.
- Drowsy Driving: Operating a vehicle while fatigued or sleepy, leading to slower reaction times and impaired decision-making.
- Running Red Lights and Stop Signs: Failing to obey traffic signals, which can result in high-speed collisions, especially at intersections.
- Not Wearing Seat Belts: Failure to use seat belts increases the risk of severe injury or death in the event of an accident.
- Aggressive Driving: Exhibiting behaviors such as road rage, excessive speeding, and hostile gestures that increase the likelihood of accidents.
- Improper Lane Changes: Failing to signal, not checking blind spots, or cutting off other drivers can lead to sideswipe or rear-end collisions.
- Driving in Inclement Weather: Not adjusting driving habits for conditions like rain, snow, fog, or ice, which can cause skidding, hydroplaning, or loss of control.
- Vehicle Defects: Mechanical failures or defects, such as brake failures, tire blowouts, or steering malfunctions, can lead to accidents if they occur suddenly and unexpectedly.
- Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, uneven road surfaces, poor signage, and inadequate lighting can contribute to accidents by making it difficult for drivers to navigate safely.
- Medical Emergencies: Sudden medical conditions like heart attacks, seizures, or strokes while driving can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.
- Inexperienced Drivers: Drivers who lack experience, such as teenagers or newly licensed adults, are more prone to making errors in judgment or failing to recognize hazardous situations.
- Animal Crossings: Collisions with animals, particularly in rural or wooded areas, can lead to severe accidents if drivers swerve or lose control trying to avoid them.
- Wrong-Way Driving: Entering highways or roads in the wrong direction can lead to head-on collisions, which are often fatal due to the combined speed of both vehicles.
- Fatigued or Distracted Pedestrians and Cyclists: Not just drivers, but also pedestrians or cyclists not paying attention or following traffic rules can cause accidents.
Real-Life Accidents
At 11:54 a.m. on September 16, 2023, an eastbound Volvo commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by an employee, left the roadway, went through an ODOT fence, and struck a tree. The impact caused the Volvo to catch fire and become fully engulfed. The fire spread to a barn and the local fire departments responded to extinguish the fire. The employee was killed in the motor vehicle accident fire.
At 8:30 p.m. on November 4, 2022, an employee was driving a utility vehicle on the street. The employee lost control and drove the vehicle over the curb, and crashed into a tree. The employee was killed.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. Which of the following unsafe driving practices is responsible for most fatal vehicle accidents?
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