35,092 people killed in traffic crashes in 2015, ending a 5-decade trend of declining fatalities with a 7.2 percent increase in deaths from 2014.

 
THE DEADLY U.S. ROADS

Traffic Fatalities Up Sharply in 2015

White House and DOT issue call to action to data scientists and public health experts as 2,348 more people died in traffic crashes compared to previous year

WASHINGTON – The nation lost 35,092 people in traffic crashes in 2015, ending a 5-decade trend of declining fatalities with a 7.2 percent increase in deaths from 2014. The final data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed traffic deaths rising across nearly every segment of the population. The last single-year increase of this magnitude was in 1966, when fatalities rose 8.1 percent from the previous year.

“Despite decades of safety improvements, far too many people are killed on our nation’s roads every year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Solving this problem will take teamwork, so we’re issuing a call to action and asking researchers, safety experts, data scientists, and the public to analyze the fatality data and help find ways to prevent these tragedies.”

Ten years ago, the number of traffic deaths was nearly 25 percent higher, with 42,708 fatalities reported nationwide in 2005. Since then, safety programs have helped lower the number of deaths by increasing seat belt use and reducing impaired driving. Vehicle improvements, including air bags and electronic stability control, have also contributed to reducing traffic fatalities.

In response to the increase, DOT, NHTSA, and the White House are issuing an unprecedented call to action to involve a wide range of stakeholders in helping determine the causes of the increase. NHTSA will share its Fatality Analysis Reporting System with safety partners, state and local officials, technologists, data scientists, and policy experts. And private sector partners using new data collection technologies will be offering access to unprecedented amounts of data and new visualizations tools.


To us, the reasons for the increase are obvious and we have been writing about them for some time.  What is needed is the institution of a driver re-certification program, as drivers forget even the basic driving skills.  We propose a 5-year resertification program and/or even annual driving safety refresher courses.  We could start with drivers who have committed traffic violations, including got involved in traffic accidents of property damage.

According to NHTSA, job growth and low fuel prices were two factors that led to increased driving, including increased leisure driving and driving by young people. More driving can contribute to higher fatality rates. In 2015, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increased 3.5 percent over 2014, the largest increase in nearly 25 years.

Pedestrian and pedalcyclist fatalities increased to a level not seen in 20 years. Motorcyclist deaths increased over 8 percent. NHTSA also noted human factors continued to contribute to the majority of crashes. Almost half of passenger vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seat belts. Research shows almost one in three fatalities involved drunk drivers or speeding. One in 10 fatalities involved distraction. Click here for a 2015 Lives Saved Research Note . Click here for a 2015 Overview.

“The data tell us that people die when they drive drunk, distracted, or drowsy, or if they are speeding or unbuckled,” said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. “While there have been enormous improvements in many of these areas, we need to find new solutions to end traffic fatalities.”

In addition to the call to action on understanding the increase in deaths, USDOT will hold a special session at its Safer People, Safer Streets Summit on September 16th to discuss the pedestrian and bicycle fatality increase with city leaders taking part in the Mayor's Challenge.

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UNITED STATES STILL HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST ROAD ACCIDENT DEATH AND INJURY RATES IN THE WORLD: 34,000 DIE AND 2.5 MILLION INJURED EACH YEAR.

Despite the improvements in road safety, the United States has one of the highest death rates at about 1 person dead per 10,000 people. Unfortunately, only undeveloped countries have higher death rate.

Some states, such as Texas and West Virginia (sorry, WV, despite your tremendous progress in traffic safety, you are still at the top of the worst-death-rate list) have death rates of nearly 1.5 percent, i.e., fifty percent more people die compared to the national death rate.

Approximately 34,000 people are getting killed each year.  In the 1950s and 1960s, about 55,000 people used to die on the roads – so, there has been improvement on the number of dead. 

However, the number of injured is rising.  Roughly 2.5 million are injured (yes, you read it correctly – 2.5 million injured) per year.  That is, 1 percent (1%) of the population that is eligible to drive is injured every year.

It is worse than a war zone out there.  

So, please be safe and be on the lookout for weaving-through-the-traffic drivers, crazy drivers, reckless drivers, sick drivers, medical-condition drivers, sleepy drivers, negligent drivers, stupid drivers, careless drivers, drunk drivers, speeding drivers, drugged drivers, texting drivers, talking-on-the-phone drivers, looking-at-the-GPS drivers, hurry-hurry drivers, tailgating drivers, upset drivers, eating-while-driving drivers, putting-the-lipstick-on-while-driving drivers, elderly drivers, and so on.




  Comprehensive List of Causes of Car Accidents

Getting into a car accident can lead to several unwanted consequences, including permanent injuries, loss of earnings, etc. Why not do everything you can to avoid a car accident in the first place then? Here at Metropolitan Forensics we would like to help you understand the causes of car accidents, and therefore help you learn preventative measures for automobile accidents.

While some of these car accident causes may seem obvious and redundant to experienced drivers, this list aims to educate all levels of drivers, from the teenage driver who just got his license, to the senior driver with 40 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. Let our Top 25 Causes of Car Accidents be your guide towards a lifetime of car accident prevention anywhere.

1. Distracted Driving

The number one cause of car accidents is not a criminal that drove drunk, sped or ran a red light. Distracted drivers are the top cause of car accidents in the U.S. today. 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.
Distracted drivers are quietly causing a staggering amount of serious car accidents.  In fact, driver distractions are the leading cause of most auto accidents.  As experienced forensic engineers, we have handled plenty of automobile accidents that were caused by driver distractions or driver inattentiveness.
Here are some common driver distractions:

• Talking on a cell phone
• Sending text messages
• Reaching for a moving object inside the vehicle
• Looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle
• Reading a book
• Eating food
• Applying makeup.

According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80 percent of automobile accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents involve at least some form of driver distraction within three seconds of the crash or near-miss.  As a result, police everywhere have begun aggressively ticketing people that engage in distracted driving and endanger other drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

Distracted Driving Takes Your Eyes Off the Road

In order to safely drive a car, you must give the road your full attention.  Drivers that divert their awareness — whether it’s to talk on their cell phone or send text messages to their friends — risk the lives of the other drivers on the road.  Distracted driving is especially dangerous because, whereas drunk driving usually occurs at night, automobile accidents caused by distracted drivers can all day.  It’s a scary thought.
When you think about your actions in a car, other than just driving, you can see that they often involve more than one type of distraction.  For instance, if you change your radio station, not only do you take your hand off the steering wheel to press a button, but you also take your eyes off the road to look at what button you want to press.  Also, drivers who engage more frequently in distracted driving are more likely to be involved in a automobile accident or near-crash.

Distracted Drivers on Cell Phones

Studies have also shown that driving performance is lowered and the level of distraction is higher for drivers who are heavily engaged in cell phone conversations.  The researchers at the NHTSA and Virginia Tech even came up with exact car accident statistics on the matter:

• Dialing a cell phone increased the risk of a car accident or near car accident 2.8 times.
• Talking on a cell phone increased the risk of a car accident or near car accident 1.3 times.

Cell phone use has become so popular these days that many times we do not realize how often we are utilizing our cell phones.  Cell phone use while driving has increased so significantly within the last few years that, at any time during the day, as many as 10 percent of all drivers are using a hand-held or hands-free phone.
The researchers at Virginia Tech caution that a headset or Bluetooth cell phone is not necessarily safer than hand-held cell phone usage.  Voice activated systems are, however, less risky if drivers need not take their eyes off the road or their hands off the steering wheel often or for long periods of time.  Our forensic engineers concur and we believe that an absolute cell phone ban while driving is safer and more practical for everyone on the road.

Sending Text Messages While Driving Is Dangerous

Text messaging is a relatively new form of communication, so there are not many laws in effect that are designed to prevent it from causing car accidents.
The NHTSA and Virginia Tech study concluded that text messaging on a cell phone was associated with the highest risk of all cell phone related tasks.  In fact, text messaging increases the risk of a car accident or near car accident 23.2 times when compared to the car accident statistics with non-distracted driver.  The researchers even goes as far as to say that texting while driving has the potential to create a true crash epidemic if texting continues to grow in popularity and as the generation of frequent text message senders reach driving age in large numbers.

Distracted Driving Affects Teen Drivers More

Research has shown that teens tend to engage in cell phone tasks much more frequently, namely text messaging, in riskier situations than adults.  The NHTSA and Virginia Tech study indicates that teens are four times more likely to get into a distracted driver-related car crash or near-crash event than their adult counterparts.  Factor in teenage inexperience and you’re left with a dangerous and live-threatening situation when distracted teens are driving.
Another major type of distraction is eating in your car while driving; you are focusing on your food and not on the road.  Not only is chewing and swallowing taking place, but you are also opening packages, unwrapping and re-wrapping food, reaching, leaning, spilling, wiping and cleaning yourself or your car.  These are quite a number of car distractions for one driver on one trip, not mention that reaching for an object increases the risk of a car accident or near car accident 1.4 times.

Prevent Auto Accidents By Putting Down the Distractions

Based on the study, researchers recommend the following safe-driving tactics to prevent car accidents caused by distracted drivers:

• Text messaging and cell phone dialing should always be avoided by drivers.
• Text messaging should be banned in moving vehicles for all drivers.
• All cell phone use should be banned for newly licensed teen drivers.

Our forensic engineers will go a step further.  We believe that it is best to finish your phone calls before you start driving your car.  If your phone rings while you are driving, let your voice mail pick up the call.  If you must answer your phone, it is safer to pull over to a safe location and park before using your cell phone.  You are also safer when you stop your car to eat or drink.  Allow yourself plenty of time to stop, rest from driving and enjoy your meal.

New cell phone laws took effect July 1, 2008 in California.  Drivers ages 18 and over may use hands-free devices while driving, but drivers under the age of 18 may not use any type of hand-held or hands-free wireless phone while driving.  If everyone followed these few simple rules while driving, tens of thousands of lives would be saved every year.

As forensic engineers, we would really like to ask the public driving community, is it not worth the effort to make a few changes and save the thousands of lives that are killed in fatal car accidents due to driver distractions?

2. Speeding

You’ve seen them on the highway. Many drivers ignore the speed limit and drive 10, 20 and sometimes 30 mph over the limit. Speed kills, and traveling above the speed limit is an easy way to cause a car accident. The faster you drive, the slower your reaction time will be if you need to prevent an auto accident.
Our forensic engineers know from nearly two decades of experience that speeding drivers cause a lot of auto accidents.  Nearly one-third of all car accidents can be attributed to speeding.  The faster a car driver speeds, the less time you have to react — not to mention the increase in forces on the human body in a collision at high speeds.  As a result, personal injuries are worse in car accidents at high speeds.

In 1999, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 12,628 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.  The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by the NHTSA to be $28 billion per year.  Speeding is a deliberate and calculated behavior where the driver knows the risk but ignores the danger.  Fully 90 percent of all licensed drivers speed at some point in their driving career, and 75 percent admit to committing this offense regularly.

As forensic engineers, we strongly suggest that all car drivers consider the consequences before making a regrettable decision to speed.

Excessive Speeding Is Not the Only Problem

Most people would probably agree that going 100 mph is foolishly dangerous and will very likely lead to a disastrous car accident.  The problem is that exceeding the speed limit by only 5 mph in the wrong place can be just as dangerous.  That is why traffic engineers as well as Federal, State and local governments have determined the maximum speeds allowable for safe travel on the nation’s roadways.

Consider this example of a pedestrian accident caused by minor or moderate levels of speeding:

A pedestrian walks out into a crosswalk with an approaching car that is traveling at 30 mph.  If the driver brakes when the pedestrian is 45 feet away, there will be enough space to stop without hitting the pedestrian.  Now, increase the vehicle’s speed by just 5 mph, and the situation changes dramatically.  At 35 mph and the pedestrian 45 feet away, the car will be traveling at 18 mph when it hits the pedestrian.  A pedestrian accident at 18 mph can cause major injuries or even wrongful death.

Three-Second Rule Can Prevent Speeding Car Accidents

To prevent speeding car accidents, drivers should observe the three-second rule, no matter what speed you’re driving.  This is how the three-second rule works:

1. While driving, pick out a sign or pole on the side of the road.
2. When the car in front of you passes it, count off three seconds.
3. The front of your vehicle should not reach the marker before you reach three.
4. If you pass the marker before you reach the count of three, back off and try again.

Make sure, however, the three-second rule does not take your eyes off the road because that just sets the stage for another type of car accident.

Avoid Speeding to Prevent an Auto Accident

As forensic engineers, we wish that more people could understand how speeding does not save them much time and only increases the danger to themselves, passengers and others.  Moreover, parents are role models for their children.  If a parent speeds in the presence of a parent, how does that parent expect their teenager to drive?

Maybe the answer is that more people should just leave early.  If you are running late, it’s important to know that driving a few mph faster or impatiently tailgating other cars will not help.  Is it truly worth causing an auto accident just to arrive at your destination a few seconds earlier?

3. Drunk Driving

When you drink, 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 they are one the top causes that can be avoided. Always use a designated driver if you go out and drink.
Each year, thousands of car accidents with drunk drivers cause tragedy and grief, making it one of the top causes of automobile accidents.  Drinking impairs your senses (vision and hearing) and results in decreased muscle coordination and slower reaction times — not a good combination for driving a car.  In 2007 alone, about 13,000 wrongful deaths occurred in fatal car accidents with drunk drivers.

Since 1992, our forensic engineers have seen relatives grieve upon the wrongful death or serious permanent injury of a loved one.  The drunk driver often survives, but tragically, innocent people are usually killed.  This paradox can only be remedied with stricter laws, better enforcement and increased sobriety checkpoints.  The goal is to arrest more people that drive under the influence of alcohol (DUI) to get them off the road.

Blood Alcohol Content Level as It Relates to Drunk Driving

In all 50 states, the legal limit for DUI is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher.  Your BAC level is defined as the percentage of alcohol in your blood, and it is the most common method of measuring one’s drunkenness.  While a BAC reading of .08 or higher makes it illegal to drive in the U.S., a person is still somewhat impaired by a lower level BAC.  Here are the effects of differing degrees of intoxication:

BAC Level: .01 to .03 — An average person appears normal.  Impairment is subtle and can be detected by special tests that show a slight decline in visual and multitasking functions.

BAC Level: .03 to .06 — A person begins to feel a calming sensation.  The effects range from mild euphoria, increased sense of well-being, relaxation, talkativeness, joyousness and decrease inhibition.  Impairment increases as alertness, judgment, coordination and concentration begin to be affected.

BAC Level: .06 to .10 — When a person reaches this level of intoxication, obvious physical effects begin to appear.  Reflexes, reasoning, depth perception, distance viewing, peripheral vision and glare now become serious impairments to a driver and car accidents become more likely.  Drunk drivers at the legal BAC limit of .08 are 11 times more likely to get in a car accident than a sober person.

BAC Level: .11 to .20 — These high intoxication levels show a person that would appear very drunk.  Behavioral changes include over-expression, emotional swings (angry or sad) and the person is likely to be rowdy.  Impairments include a slower reaction time, loss of motor control, staggering and slurred speech — definitely not the characteristics of someone that you would want driving.

BAC Level: .20 & Up — Having this high a BAC results in an individual that begins to lose any and all judgment and motor function.  There is severe motor impairment, loss of consciousness, loss of memory (blacking out) and — as BAC levels approach .30 and higher — death by alcohol poisoning becomes very possible.

What this all means is that no one should ever drive a car after having a drink.  Even one drink — which would lead to a low BAC level — has been proven to impair vision and can make for a more distracted driver.  As BAC levels increase, drivers become more and more likely to cause a car accident as these effects only worsen.

All Drunk Driving Accidents Are Preventable

As forensic engineers, we believe that there is absolutely no reason that anyone should drive a car after drinking.  Police officers across the country are also doubling their efforts to arrest DUI offenders, who often lose their license upon even their first such offense.  There are many ways to combat this problem, but the easiest way to prevent a DUI is to educate people to make better decisions.  Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and other organizations, are also committed to preventing drunk driving through education.

There are many ways that you can prevent drunk driving accidents.  For instance, something as simple as a designated driver saves people from car accidents.  By putting a sober person behind the wheel, everyone can feel free to have a good time at the bar without putting anyone’s life at risk on the road.
Another solution, this one on a large scale, was to raise the minimum drinking age nation-wide from 18-years old to 21 in July of 1984.  

In 2007 alone, 826 lives were saved by 21-year old minimum drinking age laws according to Traffic Safety Facts.  In some states, DUI offenders are required to install a key-ignition lock on their car that has an attached breathalyzer.  If these drivers attempt to drive under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, the car will not start.

As forensic engineers, we have the ability by working with lawyers to bring the wrongdoers to civil justice, while the criminal charges are left to the District Attorney.  Sometimes, the D.A. will ask the injured person’s forensic engineer for help with restitution (a way for the DUI offender to make reparations for the harm that was caused).

The good news is that the drunk driving accident statistics have actually declined in recent years.  

The total number of fatal car accidents involving a DUI have declined for two years in a row (after a decade high of 13,582 in 2005), and the fatality rate, per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT), in car accidents hit a record low of 0.43 in 2007.  These car accident statistics are still not low enough, but it is a start.  Of course this reduction in accidents was caused by the economic recession and the lower economic activity.  The last few years we have seen an increase in the accidents due to the increase in the economic activity (increased construction, shipping of goods, increased leisure travel, higher stress, longer work hours, etc.)

If we can continue to educate people on the dangers of drunk-driving (DUI) car accidents, then maybe we will one day eliminate these terrible auto accidents.  Just remember, one drink is too many if you plan on driving, so always have a sober person take care of the driving.

4. Reckless Driving

If you don’t drive carefully, and you may end up in a needless car accident. That’s what often happens to reckless drivers who 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.
Reckless driving is a moving violation in which a driver displays a disregard for the rules of the road, and our forensic engineers know that reckless drivers are a major cause of car accidents.  In essence, reckless drivers put themselves and others at risk.  As such, reckless driving offenders are punished by fines, jail time, and/or driver’s license suspension or revocation.

Reckless Driving Often Involves More Than One Traffic Violation

Disregard for the safety of people or property is a common element in reckless driving car accidents.  Reckless driving acts include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Causing an automobile accident
• Distracted driving
• Drinking and driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Driving without headlights
• Improper turns
• Running red lights
• Running stop signs
• Speeding
• Suddenly braking
• Tailgating.

These traffic offenses alone don’t constitute reckless driving, but a combination of traffic violations or aggravating circumstances can support a reckless driving charge.

Excessive Speeding Alone Can Be Reckless Driving

While speeding alone isn’t usually considered reckless driving, an extremely high rate of speed might lead an officer to charge someone with reckless driving.  When other mitigating factors are involved, speeding might lead to a reckless driving charge.  These factors, along with speed, include:

• Presence of pedestrian traffic
• Time of day
• Traffic conditions
• Visibility
• Width and surface of the roadway.

Alcohol and Drugs Also Lead to Reckless Driving

Everyone that gets behind the wheel knowing that they are drunk or impaired are by definition reckless drivers, in that drunk or drugged drivers put the lives of everyone on the road at risk.  According to the courts, however, reckless driving and DUI (or DWI) offenses are separate crimes, and drivers may sometimes be charged with both crimes.

Teenagers Often Engage in Reckless Driving

When parents are out of sight, teenage drivers — who are just starting to get a feel for the road — engage in reckless driving behavior to impress their friends and test their limits.  Teens want to be “cool” and part of the group, and they test their limits.  Many times, their ambitions get in the way of sound judgment.
Our forensic engineers have handled terrible cases where teen drivers died because of reckless driving or drunk driving accidents that were easily preventable.  In fact, most car accidents can be prevented by following these simple tips:

• Always wear a seatbelt
• Avoid distractions caused by passengers, cell phones, food, or loud music
• Don’t speed
• Obey all traffic signs
• And try not to drive when tired.

Not every automobile accident can be prevented, but you can control whether or not you cause a serious car crash.

5. 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. To avoid a car accident, drive extra careful when it rains.
Rain has been the cause of thousands of car accidents year in and year out, and rain is especially dangerous in dry weather states like California.  Our forensic engineers know that some of the most heavily populated areas in California — San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange County — only have rain periodically during the year, and many people forget how to drive in it.  Therefore, drivers need to understand exactly how rain can cause an automobile accident.

A Lot of Drivers Don’t Know How to Drive in the Rain

In bad weather conditions, there are two types of drivers who can significantly increase the risk to others: excessively timid drivers and reckless drivers.
Excessively timid drivers tend to overestimate the danger of weather conditions and drive at unreasonably low speeds. When the weather limits the number of available traffic lanes, such as can happen following heavy rain, this type of driver can cause traffic to back up, increasing the risk of a rear end accident.

Reckless drivers often ignore the consequences of bad weather and may even think it is a good thing that the weather has forced a lot of other drivers off of the road. Reckless drivers may well drive at full highway speed or greater, even when visibility is low or the roads are drenched. Even with four wheel drive (4WD), cars can still skid. When they lose control on a slippery road, their high speed makes it much more likely for a car accident to occur.

Rain Makes the Road Slippery

Rain can make it more difficult to stay on a roadway, to stop, or to avoid colliding with other vehicles.  This is especially true when it first starts raining because roads are their most slippery at the beginning of a rainstorm.  When the road first gets wet, oil rises to the surface and creates a greasy surface.  If you can’t stop your car in time, that’s when accidents happen.

Rain Decreases Visibility

During rain storms, it can be difficult for drivers to see to see other cars.  When rain is combined with dirty water kicked up from the road by other drivers, windshields can quickly become dirty.  That is why it is always important to make sure that your car has functional windshield wipers.

Car Accident Prevention Tips For the Rain

1.  Drive slower.

This is an obvious but important tip, as it allows for better reaction times.  Rainwater causes grease and oil built up on the road to surface and tires traction suffers as a result.  If you drive slower, your tire traction will improve and you will also have more time to brake.

2.  Keep your eyes on the car ahead of you.

In the rain, it’s often hard to see very far ahead of you.  On a clear sunny day, you can see the traffic situation a couple hundred feet down the road and react accordingly.  On a rainy day, it helps to watch for the reaction of the driver ahead of you.  When he brakes, you brake.  Still keep a safe following distance from the car in front because you’ll need to brake more slowly on a slippery road to avoid skidding.  So stay as far from the car in front of you as possible while also remaining close enough to keep it in clear sight.

3.  Do not brake suddenly.

Sudden braking may cause a skid.  Since the roads are slippery, stopping the wheels too quickly may cause them to lose all traction with the road, and an imminent car accident becomes a distinct possibility.  In the case that skidding occurs, however, remain calm and do not make sudden turns because doing so may make the skidding even more dangerous.  Just try to remain calm and steer straight until you feel the car regain traction.

4.  Correctly defog your windows.

The windows on your car might fog, further limiting you visibility.  You try to defog with the heater, but that will only further fog up your windows.  To defog, keep your air conditioning blowing at both your windshield and your back window.  If your car has a defog function, just press the button, and defogging should start automatically.

5.  Avoid standing or flood water.

Most roads are built with the middle of the road higher than the sides, so try to stay near the middle of the road where it would be less likely to have a buildup of rainwater.  No automobiles can drive through the ocean floor and have firm tire grip in deep water like the sport utility vehicles presented in commercials, so stay away from pools of water.  If you do expect to go through standing water, lightly tap the brake pedal beforehand to dry the tire off a little.

Ideally, all rainy car accidents could be prevented if people stopped driving when it rains, but that is an unrealistic assumption.  Everyone has things they must attend to, so just keep these tips in mind when driving in the rain.  You can always pull over to the side and wait it out if you really think it’s raining too hard to drive.  Nothing can make up for the loss of loved one in a fatal car accident, so always yield to safety.

6. Running Red Lights

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.

7. 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.

8. Teenage Drivers

Youth is wasted on the young, but careful driving is never wasted on young drivers. Unfortunately, teenagers aren’t often known for their carefulness. When teen drivers hit the roads they don’t always know what to do and that lack of experience ends up causing car accidents.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for United States teenagers, accounting for more than one-in-three teen wrongful deaths.  The risk of auto accidents is higher among 16- to 19-year-old teenage drivers than among any other age group.  Per mile driven, teenage drivers are four times more likely to get into a car accident than older motorists.

Newly licensed teenage drivers in their first year on the road are also the most likely to be in a car accident.  Among teen drivers, males are the most likely to cause a car accident.  The death rate in car accidents for male teen drivers is one and half times that of female teenage drivers.  They are also more likely to drink, speed and not wear their seat belt compared to their female counterparts.
Our forensic engineers know the car accidents statistics, and they show that the inexperience and recklessness are a dangerous combination for teen driver.  

Many teens are testing the limits instead of properly driving a car.  In all, teen drivers’ inexperience leads to poor decision making and a greater chance of car accidents.  This problem is very difficult to fix because each year new teenage drivers hit the road.

Inexperience Often Leads to Car Accidents for Teen Drivers

• Teenage drivers are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or are simply unable to recognize them.
• Teenage drivers are more likely to drink and drive (DUI), drive with distractions, speed and tailgate.
• Teenage drivers are also the age group most likely not to wear a seat belt, which make their injuries and death totals in car accidents far worse.

Graduated Licensing Programs Help Prevent Teen Driver Car Accidents

Teenage drivers now can gain the adequate experience before they become fully licensed, and graduated driver licensing programs (GDL) have proven to be successful in this regard.  GDL systems are designed to delay full licenses for first-time drivers while allowing teenage drivers to gain driving experience in low-risk conditions with as few passengers as possible.  Studies also show that the presence of teenage passengers makes it even more likely for a car accident to occur with a teenage driver, and the risk only increases with more teen passengers.

Here are some of the programs attached to GDL systems:

• First-year teenage drivers are forbidden from driving with more than one other teenage passenger.
• First-year teen drivers cannot drive after midnight.
• First-year teenage drivers often start with points on their licenses.

These programs have led to a 38 percent reduction in fatal car accidents and 40 percent less injury-causing auto accidents.  Unfortunately, not all states employ graduated driver’s licensing programs.

Parents Can Prevent Needless Teen Driver Car Accidents

At the end of the day, it all comes down to the parents or legal guardians of these teenage drivers.  They need to make sure to not only teach but also practice the proper driving techniques every day.  Children will learn from a very young age the correct manner in which they should handle themselves on the roadways.  If teenagers spent their formative years learning and observing safe driving techniques, then they would be more likely to do so themselves.  When they show that they are not driving safely, then it is up to the parent to take away that privilege.

For forensic engineers, the goal at all times is to educate people to avoid causing car accidents because teenage drivers are causing more than their fair share of auto accidents on the roads.

9. 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.
Since your ability to perceive and judge distance is severely impaired at night — the human eye requires light to see — night driving is a top cause of car accidents.  An estimated 90 percent of all driver decisions are made based on what they see. While your eyes are capable of seeing in limited light, the combination of headlights and road lights, with the darkness beyond them, can cause several problems for your vision.  Therefore, car drivers must take extra precaution to avoid an auto accident during the night.

If one of our clients is involved in a night driving car accident, our forensic engineers want to know if there was any lighting or illumination where the car accident occurred (e.g., street lights or other lighting and also how powerful it was).  We also look for any additional visual obstructions which contributed to the car accident.  And, at all times, our forensic engineers actually go out to the scene of the car accident and recreate the conditions that led up to the crash.

Nighttime Car Accident Statistics

Car accident statistics are jarring at night.  Despite 60 percent less traffic on the roads, more than 40 percent of all fatal car accidents occur at night.

Sunlight provides the strongest light source.  When it goes down at night, there are a variety of man-made lights that help drivers safely navigate the roads.  Our eyes will adjust to lower levels of light (pupils dilate in darkness and constrict in brightness), but they have difficulty functioning properly when switching from bright to dark, or vice-versa.  This can happen quite a lot on the roads at night when you look directly into the headlights of oncoming traffic.

Driving either just before sunrise (dawn) or immediately after sunset (dusk) are also very dangerous time periods on the roadways, and many car accidents occur during these times.  The problem is that while the sky is still well lit, the roads begin to get dark.  This causes a disparity between light and dark and can cause vision problems for drivers.

Drunk Drivers & Drowsy Drivers More Likely at Night

Drunk drivers (DUI) are more likely to be on the road at night.  Nighttime drivers need to be vigilant and on the look-out for these major auto accident causers.

Drowsy driving is another added danger on the roadways at night as people are generally winding down their days and growing sleepy.  Drivers that fall asleep at the wheel, or even ones that are dazed and unobservant, can cause fatal car accidents.  As forensic engineers, we recommend that if you find  yourself growing weary, stop at a rest stop or well-lit parking lot and take a quick nap.  Even a short nap replenishes you better than the temporary relief that you will get from caffeine, loud music or opening the windows.

 Night Driving Safety Tips

1.  Allow for enough distance to stop. We recommend that you gauge this distance using your headlights.  Low beams should allow you to see up to 160 feet away, while high beams should illuminate about 500 feet in front of you.  Make sure that, if and when you must brake hard, that you can brake within those distances.

2.  Keep your dashboard lights at a safe low setting. Since the contrast between bright and dark will impede your vision, limiting the brightness in your car should help you see at night and avoid car accidents.

3.  Keep your windshield and windows clean. Limiting the glare from other headlights is very important.  A dirty windshield will not help in this regard.

4.  Limit distractions. Since your vision will not be as good as it is during the day, your reaction times will also be slower than normal.  This is why you should focus your attention on the road even more than you would other times.

There are many potential dangers that you will face on the road late at night.  As forensic engineers, we hope that you will always drive carefully regardless of the road conditions.  These tips should help you successfully navigate the nighttime roads and reach your destination safely.  Just remember to take your time and drive safely, and you will avoid a potential wrongful death car accident.

10. 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.
Manufacturers are required by law to design and engineer cars that meet a minimum safety standard.  While advancements are being made every day to improve the safety and efficiency of automobiles on the road, problems with the design and functionality of the cars themselves — sometimes referred to as product liability — is one of the top causes of car accidents on the road.
Even with federal safety standards and extensive testing on every automobile manufactured, our forensic engineers know there are a significant amount of defective cars on the road.

What Do Auto Makers Do About Design Defect?

Car manufacturers are usually faced with only two choices after discovering a poorly designed auto component:

• Recall the defective part or car and fix it.
• Pay off accident-related lawsuits as they arise.

Manufacturing defects can lead to very serious auto accidents.  As such, you should be aware of the typical design defects, as well as how to prevent a car accident.

Brake Failures Result In Major Car Accidents

Modern dual-circuit brake systems have made total brake failure an unlikely event. If one side of the brake circuit fails, the other side can sufficiently stop the car.  Disc brakes, found on the front wheels of nearly every car built today, are significantly more effective than older drum braking systems, which can fade when hot.

Anti Blockier System (ABS) or anti-lock brakes prevent the wheels from locking up during emergency braking maneuvers, allowing modern automobiles to avoid many car accidents that might have occurred in the past due to brake failure.

Defective Tires Can Cause Car Accidents

The radial tires manufactured today are significantly safer than the bias-ply tires produced 25 years ago. Problems can still occur, mainly due to air pressure or tire traction. Under-inflated tires are the top cause of tire blowouts.  Uneven or worn-out tires caused by improperly balanced tires and misaligned or broken suspensions can put any car on an unintended path that may cause a car accident.

Your tires keep you connected to the roadway.  If you do not know how to check your own tires then have a certified car mechanic check them every 5,000 miles.

Poor Steering & Suspension Can Lead To Car Accidents

Your suspension keeps your tires in contact with the roadway in a stable and predictable manner while the steering mechanisms enable you to go around road obstacles and avoid potential accidents. Even a safe, well-trained driver is helpless in the event of a steering or suspension system failure. To ensure your automobile is operating safely in terms of suspension and steering, have your vehicle checked out by a mechanic every 10,000 miles.

11. 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 safe 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.
You mistakenly move into a lane without checking to see if a car is in the next lane or passing a car without checking for oncoming traffic, and next thing you know, one of the top causes of car accidents has taken place.

How Do Unsafe Lane Changes Cause Car Accidents?

Making an unsafe lane change can be as simple as you changing lanes without signaling or by starting to signal after you began the lane change.  Our forensic engineers know it may also be that you changed into a lane where the following car was forced to brake in order to make room, or even brake too hard in order for the vehicle to maintain a safe following distance.

Unsafe lane changes can occur when you make a lane change too quickly as a result of road conditions or the type of car being driven.  The point is that unsafe lane changes cause car accidents that come with devastating aftermaths.

Preventing Unsafe Lane Changes For Causing Car Accidents

When operating a vehicle and using the car’s mirrors, it is also vital to look over to the left or right to make sure there is no one in your blind spot before making a lane change.   Changing lanes can become even more challenging depending on road conditions such as traffic and weather.

If you are drive a large automobile, then it might be a good idea to install proper blind proof mirrors so that lane changes can be done safely.

Examples Unsafe Lane Changes That Result In Car Accidents

• Changing lanes without making sure there are no cars next to you or any coming towards you if you are passing a car.
• Failing to signal before making a lane change.
• Driving in the middle of two lanes for an extended period of time.

The good news is it is easy to prevent an unsafe lane change and avoid subsequent car accidents.  It just takes knowing how to make a safe lane change instead of a dangerous one.

Guideline To Avoiding Car Accidents By Merging Safely

• Always use your blinkers or turn signals.
• Only change one lane at a time.
• Never change lanes in an area where the lanes are separated by solid lines, only do so around dashed lines.
• Do not speed up to change lanes.
• Never cut anyone off while changing lanes.
• Don’t change lanes in an intersection, or too close before the intersection. Wait until you’re thru the light and then change lanes.

None of these recommendations are hard to implement and are simply the rules of the road.  By following them, however, you can help prevent car accidents every day you are behind the wheel of your car.

12. Wrong-Way Driving

Everyone has lapses in judgment, but when behind the wheel of a car, those clouded instincts can be deadly. You can turn down a street thinking it is a normal right turn, when in actuality, it is a one-way street in the opposite direction. When you go the wrong way, everyone is in danger because as you head towards a car accident.
When you are driving and enter a roadway in the wrong direction, you might have made a mistake that could cause a horrific crash.  Wrong-way driving is an especially hazardous top cause of car accidents because it often leads to fatal head-on automobile accidents, and the results can be deadly.

Our forensic engineers have seen data showing how wrong-way driving is caused when someone drives a car the wrong way down a one-way street.  Almost 61% of these accidents are caused by drunk-drivers taking place in the early morning hours (midnight to 6 a.m.) with the highest concentration at around 2 a.m. when bars typically close.  Wrong-way driving is often a terrible mistake in judgment by a motorist at the wheel.

Common Wrong-Way Driving Scenarios That Cause Car Accidents

1.  Getting on the wrong freeway entrance ramp. This is the most common occurrence of wrong-way driving when a motorist drives in the opposite direction of oncoming traffic that is either entering or exiting the freeway.

2.  Turning on to one-way street in the wrong direction. This sort of car accident occurs many times in urban areas because downtown streets and metropolitan roads tend to have traffic flow in one direction instead of two.

3.  Driving on the wrong side of the road or highway. After taking a wrong exit or getting your directions turned around, it is possible to find yourself going the wrong way.

Preventing Car Accidents Caused By Wrong-Way Driving

In addition to a standard “ONE-WAY” sign, most states place “DO NOT ENTER” (DNE) and “WRONG WAY” (WW) signs on roadways as an added alert for drivers.  The problem is that most of these wrong-way driving car accidents occur during nighttime driving when visibility is low. While signs are designed to reflect the light from a car’s head lights, sometimes drivers do not see them when it is dark out.

As a result, the Department of Transportation is installing larger DNE and WW signs while also separating them for added effect with the idea being that the more chances for a driver to find out that he or she is wrong-way driving, the better.

There is also the added danger of avoiding a driver other than yourself who has made the mistake of wrong-way driving.  If you see a car driving towards you in the wrong direction, flash your high beams to try to get their attention and pull over to the side of the road immediately.  By clearing their pathway, you may be able to avoid an accident.

13. Improper Turns

The reason that we have stop lights, turn signals, and lanes designated for moving either right or left as opposed to straight is because when drivers ignore the rules of the road, car accidents are often the result. To prevent a car accident, always look for signs and obey the proper right-of-way before you make a turn.
There are thousands of serious car accident every year that are caused by improper turning, which can put a car directly in front of or into the path of an oncoming automobile.  That is why the simple oversight of not looking before making a turn is one of the top causes of car accidents and often leads to major personal injuries or traumatic deaths.

From a legal standpoint, our forensic engineers will tell you that if you are the one who makes the wrong turn, then it will not only cause considerable grief for the families of everyone involved in the auto accident, but quite possibly could be grounds for imprisonment.

Examples of Improper Turns That Can Lead To Car Accidents

• Turning when there is a “No Turn on Red” sign at a red light.
• Turning at a stop sign or red light without coming to a complete stop or yielding to traffic or pedestrians.
• Making a left at a red light where doing so is prohibited.
• Turning without signaling, which is also called “Improper Turn Signal Use.”
• Turning without having the right-of-way.

Factors Of Improper Turns That Cause Car Accidents

Knowing about the terrain or topography where the car accident occurred is important when determining the cause of a crash.  Furthermore, having information that indicates if the responsible party was taking any type of medication or if they were driving drunk could show that their ability to safely operate an automobile was impaired.

In short, these indicators can help to determine if a car accident was caused by improper turning, because the physical features of the road and the abilities of a driver are always called into question when a motorist makes a turn that should not have been made in the first place.

On the other hand, physical terrain and impairment are not always linked to the cause of improper turning.  In order to get a driver’s license, all car drivers need to show an instructor from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that they know how to make a proper turn.  This should be common knowledge to all licensed motorists, yet many drivers get lazy, relying on their outside mirrors without looking, or make poor decisions while rushing to make a turn.
No matter the cause, the outcome of improper turning is usually not good.

Tips To Avoid Car Accidents Caused By Improper Turns

• Turn in one single, smooth motion.
• Take your time and slow down.  There is no need to rush, especially when making the actual turn.
• Do not let other automobile drivers intimidate you into making an unsafe turn by honking their horn or other actions.  Only turn when you believe it is safe, not others.
• If it is illegal to make your intended turn at a particular spot, look to the road signs as indicators and follow them completely.
• Turn on your turn signal at least 100 feet from your intended turn.
• Always look for oncoming traffic before turning.  Never make a turn without checking to make sure that you have the right-of-way and that there are no other cars for a potential car accident.

14. Tailgating

Many drivers are impatient and reckless, driving so close to another car that they cannot react in time if the car in front of them brakes suddenly. Many fatal car accidents have occurred when a motorist dangerously tailgated another driver at high speeds. You can prevent these car accidents by giving the car in front of you a one-car-length buffer for every 10 mph you drive.
According to research by the Highways’ Agency, tailgating is a contributing factor in more than one third of all crashes on the road and is one of our top causes of car accidents.

Tailgating is when a driver follows the car in front too closely, literally riding up on its tail.  Doing so decreases the amount of time that a driver has to react. When you cannot avoid hitting another automobile, tailgating can cause a car accident.

Sometimes, when a driver is getting tailgated by another driver, the motorist in front gets angry at the person behind them and sometimes will “tap” their brakes (just to get the brake lights to go on) in an attempt to get the tailgater to back off and use a safer following distance. This is very dangerous move and causes needless auto accidents when car drivers lose control or slam into someone’s rear bumper as a result.

Our firm’s forensic engineers realize that many people are in a hurry, stressed out and believe that tailgating will speed up their journey.  Alternatively, we have seen that numerous tailgaters who have anger management issue, such as road rage, which can be reduced through proper counseling and treatment.  A driver who is blinded by uncontrollable rage is as dangerous as a driver who is impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Tips For Avoiding A Car Accident Caused By Tailgating

• Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop safely in behind the car in front of you. Driving the speed limit is the absolute fastest you are legally allowed to drive, but you should travel at a lower speed during poor roadway conditions in order to give yourself more time to react.
• Leave enough space between the automobile in front of you in case it suddenly slows down or stops. A good rule of thumb is to allow 10 feet of distance for every increment of 10 mph you are driving.  For example, 50 feet of distance between cars is ideal for a driver who is traveling at 50 mph.
• Remember that large automobiles and motorcycles require a greater distance to stop. We recommend that you leave an even larger distance between your car and those types of automobiles.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, etc.), it is best to double the distance between you and the car in front of you. Bad weather decreases tire traction and causes the slips and skids that can lead to losing control of your car.  You can prevent a car accident by maintaining a greater distance from other cars in front of you.

Timing Rules Used To Avoid Car Accidents Caused By Tailgating

When you are driving a car, it can be difficult for you to determine the distance between you and the car in front of you, so another solution is to remember these three rules:

1.  Two Second Rule
If you are on a dry and clear road, it is recommend that you count two seconds to safely gauge the distance between you and the car in front of you.  When the car in front of you drives past a sign, you should reach the count of two before you pass the sign.

2.  Four Second Rule
This is for when the roadways are wet and rainy.  In these conditions, you should employ a four second safety gap between yourself and the car in front of you.

3.  Ten Second Rule
This rule applies to icy and snowy conditions when the roadways are at their worst.  This may seem like too much time needed in order to determine distance, but every winter car accident statistics go up because motorists feel they can bypass this rule.

15. Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

It’s not only alcohol that is dangerous when mixed with drivers on the road. Drugs, both legal and illegal, can impair your ability to fully function as a driver. If your mind isn’t clear and you don’t have complete control over your body, getting behind the wheel can lead to serious car accidents.
Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs is an unspoken danger on the roads.  Sure, there are organizations fighting against drunk drivers — and rightfully so — but “drugged driving” (DUI) is an issue that has fallen on the backburner of driver’s education even though it is a top cause of car accidents.

According to the 2006 Nation Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10.2 million people admit to driving under the influence of drugs.  It is important that car accidents caused by drugged driving — due to not only illegal substances but prescription and non-prescription over-the-counter medications — are stopped and that the dangers of this kind of DUI are taken seriously.

How Does Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs Cause Car Accidents?

Our firm’s forensic engineers have seen the effects of drugs on the brain, how they alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time and various other qualities required for safe driving.  The results of specific drugs differ depending on how they are administered (smoked, inhaled, injected, etc.), the amount consumed, and the abuser’s drug history.

One common misconception is that drugged driving is limited only to illegal drugs.  The fact of the matter is that drugs legally prescribed to a person can also alter perceptions, induce drowsiness or sleepiness and produce other negative side effects that are detrimental to safe driving.  Many bottles actually contain warning labels that warn users against driving for a specific period of time after usage to curb the number of drugged drivers on the road.  In short, drugged driving is a concern for everyone on the road looking to steer clear of car accidents.

What Drugs Impair Drivers & Lead To Accidents?

There are several different types of drugs:

• Depressants
• Stimulants
• Hallucinogens

Most Drugs Make Driving More Difficult

Each drug affects the human brain in a distinctly different fashion.  Making matters worse, drug abusers sometimes use several different drugs, as well as alcohol, at the same time.  This complicates the effectiveness of the drugs and further increases the chances of a car accident if a driver is intoxicated by this mixture of substances.

Marijuana usage can cause car accidents.  Marijuana contains an addictive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that has been shown to affect areas of the brain that control reaction time, body movement, balance, coordination, memory, judgment and sensation.  These are all necessary attributes for safe driving.  Tests have shown that drivers’ attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw information of past experiences have all been diminished by a marijuana usage.  Using marijuana while operating a car makes driving unsafe for you and the other motorists around you.

Drugged Driving Enforcement Helps Prevent Car Accidents

In 15 states, including California, it is illegal to drive a car if there is any detectable level of an illegal drug in your system, while other states define “drugged driving” as the incapacity to driving safely due to driver impairment from a controlled substance.

Since no breathalyzer test can be performed, an officer must determine if there are any outward signs of drug impairment, such as physical appearance, performing with field sobriety test, erratic driving, incriminating statement or conduct.  Once a driver is suspected of drugged driving, a blood or urine test can be administered in order to gain proof of driving under the influence.

There are drug abuse and prevention programs which are designed to prevent drug use from starting, as well as helping current users stop.  Drug education may never completely stop drug abuse, but it will at least give people the knowledge of the dangers associated with it, which includes driving under the influence of drugs.

16. Ice

You’re driving down the road, it’s dark out and you want to get home for the warm fire. Next thing you know, you’re car is spinning dangerously out of control because you hit black ice. Ice is a major cause of car accidents for cities with cold weather climates.
Icy roads can cause you to lose tire traction even more so than when driving a car in the rain, making them one of the top causes of car accidents.  A number of drivers lose control of their cars and get into accidents when the roads are icy.  Sometimes, it is best to stay home or remain where you are until snow plows or road crews have done their work to melt the ice.

If you get into a car accident on a snowy or icy road, you will certainly be late in arriving at your destination and since you can’t always call in to work claiming a “snow day,” our firm’s forensic engineers think that it is better to learn how to correctly drive in the snow.

Driving Safely On Icy Roads To Prevent Car Accidents

Sometimes you can’t prevent crashes on icy roads because vehicle might be out of control, but there are ways you can be prepared.

When it comes to icy roads, we believe that you have to be prepared for what is known as the coefficient of friction (a way of defining how “slippery” a surface is). The best way is to check the weather for the entire route you are driving if the forecast calls for any unusual conditions.  Also be sure to properly maintain your vehicle’s tires and visibility. If you are on a road is slippery, cannot see, and your tires are giving out, then you can imagine the slippery consequences.

Technology can help, but it will not solve all the problems of icy roads. A few important features that you should know about when it comes to your car and icy roads are the “anti-lock brake system” (ABS) and “all-wheel drive” (AWD).
When you put your foot on the brake and hold it there, the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working.  For icy roads, ease up slightly on the pedal until the pulsing happens only once a second.  If your vehicle does not have ABS, you’ll have to rely on the old-fashioned system:  you.

For non-ABS cars on a mixed-surface road, push the brake pedal hard until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again.  Repeat this sequence rapidly. This is not the same as “pumping the brake.” Your goal is to have the tires producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow, ice or damp pavement.

All-wheel drive (AWD) and electronic stability control can get you into trouble by offering a false sense of security.  AWD can only help a vehicle accelerate or keep moving, but it can not help you go around a snow-covered turn, much less stop at an icy intersection.

Tips For Avoiding Car Accidents On Icy Roads

1. Get a grip. To have adequate snow traction, a tire requires at least 6/32-inch deep tread and most passenger-car tires manufactured today usually have 10/32-inch of tread.  Ultrahigh-performance summer tires have little or no grip in snow.  Even all-season tires don’t necessarily have great snow traction.  If you live where the roads are regularly covered with snow, use snow tires (sometimes called winter tires by manufacturers).  If they have a “snowflake on the mountain” symbol on the sidewall, then they meet a tire-industry standard for snow traction.

2. Make sure you can see. Be sure to maintain functionality of your windshield wiper blades, and clean the inside of your windows thoroughly.  Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid by draining older fluid by running the washers until new fluid appears.  Switching fluid colors makes this easy.

3. Run the air-conditioner. In order to remove condensation and frost from the interior of windows, engage your air-conditioner and select the fresh air option.  It is fine to set the temperature on hot, which many vehicles automatically do this when you choose the defrost setting.

4. Check your lights. You should first make sure your headlights and taillights are clear of snow.  Use your headlights so that others will see you and if you have an older car with sand-pitted headlights, get a new set of lenses.

5. Take A Brake. Learn how to get maximum efficiency from your brakes before an emergency.  It is easy to properly use antilock brakes:  stomp, stay and steer.  Stomp on the pedal as if you were trying to snap it off, stay hard on the pedal, and steer around the obstacle.  A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency.

6. Watch out carefully for “black ice.” If the road looks slick, it probably is. This is especially true with one of winter’s worst hazards: black ice.  Also called “glare ice”, this is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely.

7. Too much steering is bad. If a slick section in a turn causes your front tires to lose grip, the common but incorrect reaction is to continue turning the steering wheel.   If the icy conditions end and the front tires regain grip, your car will dart whichever way the wheels are pointed.

8. Avoid rear-tire slides. First, choose a car with electronic stability control (ESC).  Fortunately, ESC will be mandatory on all 2012 models.  Next, make sure your rear tires have at least as much tread as your front tires.  Always remember, if you buy winter tires, do it for all four wheels.

17. Snow

Snow’s dangerous mixture of ice and water is a dangerous recipe for car accidents each winter storm. Like ice, snow is something you usually encounter when driving in New York City and other cold weather cities. Cities with cold winters know all-too-well just how dangerous snow can be for commuters.
Each winter, snowfall makes for treacherous road conditions and an increased risk for car accidents.  As our forensic engineers know, traffic accident statistics always increase in the winter months, so if you live in a cold-weather state, you will need to be prepared for it.

Avoiding Car Accidents When Driving Through The Snow

Since snow is one of the top causes of car accidents, it is important that you know how to drive your vehicle when the roads are covered in white powdery fluff.   Here are six tips to help you arrive home safely while driving during the snow:

1. Whenever Possible, Do Not Drive In the Snow. Only drive in snow when you cannot avoid it.  This is the best way to avoid a car accident.

2. Upgrade With Either Tire Chains or Snow Tires. This is something that you will need to take care of ahead of time.  If you live in state in which snow is a possibility or are planning a trip to one that does, upgrading your tires should be a priority before the season starts.

3. Increase Your Visibility. You will need to be more alert than you might normally be in good weather as you will also need to be on the look-out for other potential car accidents.

• Be sure to clear snow off all your windows and your roof before beginning your trip.  You will need a special ice scraper to properly clean off not just your windshield but all windows around your car.
• It would be prudent to make sure that you have plenty of windshield wiper fluid and wipers that are in good condition.

4. Drive Extra Slow. Since driving in the snow causes more slips and skids than normal roadway conditions, you will need to be extra careful to avoid car accidents.

5. Should You Start To Skid, Remain Calm And Steer Your Car Into It. Release your brake and honk your horn to alert other drivers’ attention.  This may allow them time to get out of your way and help you avoid a potential car accident because of lack of control.

6. Be Especially Careful of Black Ice. Black ice is like invisible ice.  Black ice that looks exactly like the surface your car is traveling on, but while you may think you are driving over an asphalt surface, you are driving over a sheet of ice on the road which can easily cause your car to skid.

Thorough preparation is most of the battle against snowy conditions.  If you take the proper precautions before hitting the roads during a snow storm, your chances of avoiding a car accident are that much better.

18. Road Rage

Everyone has been angry at another driver for one reason or another, but some drivers let their rage overcome them. By tailgating another driver in anger or speeding past another driver only to pull in front of them and brake, these road “ragers” cause many needless car accidents each year.
Believe it or not, road rage is one of the top causes of car accidents.  It may happen through intentionally dangerous driving acts, such as braking suddenly in front of another car, pulling up right on another driver’s bumper or even trying to tap the other driver’s bumper.

Ourforensic engineers know road rage may also occur because angry drivers are more likely to make mistakes in their driving conduct.  Worse, as road rage incidents frequently occur on highways and freeways, the car accidents that result can be extremely serious and involve additional cars.

Road Rage Can Lead To Serious Car Accidents

There are some ways to avoid a car accident if you find yourself in a situation with a driver that is experiencing road rage.

• Try to remove yourself from the situation — slow down slightly or take an exit.
• If the angry driver pursues you, try to pull into the parking lot of a police station or a busy area where other people are around you.
• If you are considering engaging in acts of road rage, you should also remove yourself from the situation, if necessary pulling over until you have calmed down.

If you have ever been passed on the wrong side, tailgated, cut off or hemmed in by another vehicle, then you have been affected by an aggressive driver.  

Aggressive driving often ends in car accidents and senseless personal attacks.  This is why it is important to know how to stop road rage before it happens and pulls you into a car accident you didn’t want in the first place.

Tips For Stopping Car Accidents Caused By Road Rage

Controlling your anger and uncontrollable road rage all starts with these key areas.

1. Attitude. Driving is not a competitive sport.  Stay calm and focus on getting from one place to another safely and try to forget about time if you are running late.

2. Smarts. One driver cannot fight alone.  Do not allow yourself to get drawn into a confrontation because it can only end badly.

3. Courtesy. Error on the side of being courteous and kind to other drivers.

4. Turn Signal. Using your turn signal ensures that drivers around you will not be surprised by your driving.

5. Changing Lanes. Do not cut off other drivers and make sure you have plenty of room when you merge onto a highway.

6. Keep Up the Pace. Driving in the left lane slower that the prevailing traffic is asking for trouble.  Regardless of the speed you are traveling, move to the right lane if someone wants to pass you.

7. Tailgating. Not only does it greatly reduce your ability to respond to traffic, but tailgating can also annoy the other drivers around you.  Keeping a safe distance never annoyed anyone.

8. Gestures. Do not make obscene gestures.  Avoid any visible sign that you may be angry or frustrated and wanting to take that anger out on some one.

9. Keep Your Distance. If a driver is displaying signs of aggressive driving.

10. Ease Up. If someone cuts you off, then slow down and give them room.  Their aggression may escalate if you respond in a similar way.

11. Get Help. If you think you are in serious danger, use your cell phone to call the police or drive to a heavily populated area.  Do not drive home and do not get out of the car until it is safe.

12. Apologize. If you make a mistake, try to apologize with an appropriate gesture, such as a smile and a wave of the hand.

19. Potholes

Motorists are well aware of the dangers posed by potholes in the street. Drivers run the risk of losing control of their car or blowing out a tire when they drive over these potholes. If you see a pothole in your car’s path, you can avoid a car accident by making sure that your tires do not drive over it.
Potholes are bowl-shaped openings in the road that can be up to 10 inches deep and are caused by the wear-and-tear and weathering of the roads.  They occur when the top layer of the road, the asphalt, has worn away and exposed the concrete base.  Once a pothole forms, it can grow to several feet, with rain water accelerating the process and creating a trap for vehicles, making one of the top causes of car accidents.

Potholes put a huge strain on your car’s suspension and shocks (which absorb most of the impact of bumps and potholes).  It can cause expensive damage to your car and cause you to make an unexpected appointment with the auto mechanic.  They can also cause an impact similar to that of a 35-mph car accident, if deep enough.

While a bumpy road may be a minor nuisance to drivers, a road littered with potholes can cause serious property damage to your car and even result in a car accident.  Unfortunately our firm’s forensic engineers are hearing more and more about accidents caused by potholes on roads that are too worn down and need repair.

Top-10 Worst U.S. Urban-Area Roadways For Potholes

With five major cities in the top seven, California residents will need to know about the dangers of potholes.  New York City is one of the worst offenders when it comes to potholes, which might be a factor in many of our city’s serious car accident.

• San Jose


• Los Angeles


• Bay Area


• Kansas City


• New Orleans


• San Diego


• Sacramento


• St. Louis


• Omaha


• New York City

Potholes Don’t Just Cause Car Accidents, But Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Too

Sometimes, when a pothole is so severe, or your car is not equipped to handle the blow, it will cause you to lose control of your car.  This leads to car accidents that, many times, have caused wrongful deaths.

Motorcycle drivers are at special risk of injury if they ride over a pothole.  Having just two wheels on the ground and a lower weight than cars, motorcycles are ill-equipped to handle potholes.

Coupled with fewer safety features, motorcycle accidents caused by potholes are very deadly.  Cars and truck are also at risk of getting into an auto accident after running over a pothole.  With motorcycles, however, the chances of getting into a serious accident when going over a pothole are greatly increased and possibly deadly.

Some Helpful Hints For Reporting Potholes To State Highway Authority

• Give the exact location of the pothole.
• Be prepared to describe it (length, width, depth).
• Try to remember if you saw or heard rain water in the hole.
• Ask if the hole in a bus route or on trolley or railway tracks.

It is always important to remember that, when dealing with potholes, you will have to expect the unexpected.  Since a dangerous situation can arise out of nowhere, it is important to make sure that you are not speeding and are making safe decisions; otherwise, hitting a pothole could cause a car accident.

20. Drowsy Driving

Driver fatigue isn’t talked about a lot, but how well can we expect anyone to drive when they’re having trouble staying awake. Most of the car accidents caused by drowsy driving occur at night. If you find yourself wanting to fall asleep at the wheel, pull over when it’s safe and try to take a quick 30 minute power nap.
When people drive while they are tired, drowsy or sleepy, this is commonly referred to as “driver fatigue” or drowsy driving. This is one of the top causes of car accidents, since drowsy drivers are unable to adequately perceive, react and respond to situations on the road.

Our firm’s forensic engineers know that many people drive when they have not had enough sleep.  Fatigued car drivers often have a difficult time perceiving and processing information.  For instance, a driver may not recognize that he or she has drifted into the wrong lane until it is too late, and a serious car accident happens.

Symptoms Of Drowsy-Driving That Leads To Car Accidents

Driver fatigue can also lead to reduced attention to the road as well as slower reaction rates.  In extreme cases, a driver may actually fall into microsleep and briefly lose consciousness on the road.  Even a few seconds asleep on the road is the perfect formula for a wrongful death car accident or a wrongful death truck accident.

A number of symptoms that can suggest driver fatigue, such as the following:

• Yawning
• Tired eyes
• Boredom
• Inability to remember directions
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating

Drivers who notice one or more of these symptoms starting should pull over to rest and, ideally, get out of the car and stretch.  In more extreme cases of driver fatigue, however, the driver may need to pull over, take a nap and rest until the driver feels refreshed and ready to make the rest of the trip.  Many major highways provide rest stops for this purpose, and it is important to pull all the way off the highway to rest to avoid automobile accidents with your parked car.

Tips For Avoiding Car Accidents Caused By Drowsy-Driving

As forensic engineers, we believe it is very important for car drivers to learn auto accident prevention techniques against driver fatigue, for it may save tens of thousands of lives every year:

1. Do not drink and drive (DUI). One major cause of fatigue is alcohol consumption and drunk-driving.  Alcohol is a depressant and could make it so a motorists does not even have to be legally drunk to fall asleep at the wheel and cause a car accident.  One little drink is enough to induce drowsiness.  So before setting off on a long trip, do not drink at all.

2. Get enough sleep the night before. Without seven to eight hours of sleep the night before a long car trip, a motorist is just waiting for fatigue to cause a car accident.

3. Try not to start a trip late in the day. It is best to start about an hour after waking up and getting prepared.  This is the period of time when both your mind and your body are most alert.

4. If possible, carpool. Try not to ride alone because passengers can take turns driving and serve as conversation partners to keep you alert and awake.  This is a great way to keep the car trip interesting and, at the same time, avoid an unnecessary car accident.

5. Avoid driving an automobile at night. The glare of lights on the dashboard and along highway roads during nighttime driving has been shown to induce hypnosis to some extent and therefore cause driver fatigue.

6. Keep the automobile’s environment stimulating. Turn the car’s temperature down and make it cold if necessary.  Also, turn the automobile’s radio volume up, switching stations frequently and avoiding soft, slow music.  Do not use the car’s cruise control.  Try to make yourself feel involved when driving the automobile which is a great safety tip to avoid a terrible automobile accident.

7. Watch your body posture. Keep your seat back upright, and make sure the driver’s seat is forward enough to keep your legs from extending fully.  Also, keep head up and eyes staring straight ahead.

8. Take breaks or switch car drivers at least every two hours. Stop at a gas station, rest stop or a fast food restaurant.  Get out, stretch and walk around.  Exercise fights fatigue.  Keeping your body cramped in the same position for a long time induces sleep, and thus a possible car accident that could have been avoided with this simple safety tip.  Also, stop for light meals and snacks.  Eating too much could make you drowsy, but not eating would drain your energy.

9. Wear good sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses during the day keeps you from squinting, causing your eyes to get tired and want to close.  However, never wear sunglasses when it becomes dark.

10. If all else fails, stop driving and pull over! If you cannot combat the fatigue, then do not try to stay awake.  Safely pull off the road, and give in to fatigue.  Sleep it off.  It is better to be late than get in a terrible wrongful death car accident.

21. Tire Blowouts

Most highways are littered with the scattered remains of a tire blowout. Tire blowouts can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and they are especially dangerous for bigger automobiles like semi-trucks. When encountering a tire blowout, try to maintain control of your vehicle and pull over safely and you will likely avoid a serious car accident.
If you spend enough time driving on a highway, you are sure to drive by the scattered pieces of a blown-out or fragments of a tire tread separation — especially on the freeway — from trucks and tractor trailers.  A blowout occurs when a flat tire is so severely damaged that immediately loses all air pressure and causes a driver to lose control, which is why it is one of the top causes of car accidents.

Most forensic engineers know that catastrophic and fatal big rig truck accidents are often the result of a major tire blowout.

Indeed, all of us have heard about defective tires in the news; but many of the tires, even though defectively designed, might not have blown out if they were properly inflated.  This is no excuse for a tire manufacturer.  As experienced forensic engineers, we strongly encourage car owners to examine their own set of wheels, what brand are they and whether or not they are they safe to drive on.

How can this safety check be done?  Simple, take your car to a reputable tire dealer for inspection, rotation and maintenance.  It is recommend that you perform daily checks of your tires, which could be as easy as looking if the wheels are properly inflated.  Certainly, if the tire is soft or almost flat, we believe a car driver should be able to notice or feel it when driving, long before a dangerous car accident could occur.

What Causes Tire Blowouts That Create Car Accidents?

• Potholes
• Large cut that causes rapid air loss.
• Small puncture to the wheel that allows air loss slowly over time until the tire pressure fails.
• Overloading the car causes the tire to give way.

In short, blowouts can happen at anytime.  Just remember, anything that severely diminishes the air pressure and prevents the tire from supporting the weight of the automobile will likely cause a blowout that could lead to a car accident.

The good news is that car accidents, caused by blowouts, have decreased in recent years due to improvements in tire technology.  Yet, when a blowout does occur, the resulting car accident can be much more dangerous because people are not as accustomed to them.  What a driver does after the tire blowout is what can prevent the car accident from occurring.

When a tire blows out, in just a quarter-second’s time, your car goes from an easy ride to a deadly struggle to remain control and avoid an auto accident.  Many times, drivers react to the loud explosion of their tire and react drastically.  Drivers will jerk their wheels and slam on their brakes, both of which can make it very difficult to control their cars.  Since they have lost one-quarter of their traction, making any sudden movements with their cars can become a dangerous endeavor.

Tips For Avoiding Cars Accident Caused By Blowouts

Here are some tips, from experienced forensic engineers, to help you safely survive a blowout:

1. Prepare ahead of time. Periodically, check your tires for sufficient traction (you should be able to get a key into your tires’ grooves) and air pressure (check your car’s manual for the correct levels) as this can help prevent a flat tire in the first place.  Also, having two hands on the steering wheel at all times will allow you to maintain control at a moment’s notice.  It may be all the time that you have to avoid a wrongful death car accident.

2. Continue your rate of speed immediately after the blowout. It is important to preserve your car’s momentum as you will lose a great percentage of your car’s traction.

3. Gently counter-steer to offset pulling by the blown tire. This should decrease the chances of drifting into another lane or oncoming traffic and help you avoid a head-on auto accident.

4. Once the car stabilizes, begin to slow down and carefully pull over to the side of the road. From there you can collect yourself and contact a tow truck operator.

5. Always drive a safe distance behind the car or truck ahead of you. This way, you can see foreign objects in the road, such as old tire treads, many which are quite large and dangerous.

22. Fog

Fog isn’t the most common weather occurrence, and that’s good news for car accidents statistics. Driving is a skill that requires the ability to see, but fog makes it extremely difficult to see sometimes more than a car length in front of you. Avoid car accidents by using your head lights — and never your high beams — when driving in the fog.
Fog reduces visibility, limits contrast, distorts perception and causes many car accidents each year.  In essence, it limits your ability to see other cars and objects on the road, so you must be very cautious when driving in it.
Fog is produced by the suspension of very fine moisture droplets in the air.  

When light hits these droplets, it scatters and results in a loss of contrast and a dense white background.  As these droplets get smaller, fog gets thicker and makes for roadways that are even more blanketed.  As a result, car drivers cannot see very far ahead, and car accidents become an even greater possibility than normal.

When an airport becomes “fogged in,” planes do not take off.  Moreover, any airborne plane must also land at another airport.  As forensic engineers, we wonder if cars shouldn’t be driven in certain foggy conditions with zero or low visibility?

Fog Affects Driver Perception in 4 Ways

1.  It distorts your perception of speed.  Due to the lowered contrast, you might think that an object is traveling slower than it really is.  This also applies to your own speed as you will not be able to judge your own speed based on your surrounds.  You cannot even see your surroundings!

If you drive in the fog, we caution against speeding while driving in the fog.  Even though the speed limit may be 50 mph, that does not mean you should drive at this speed.  In fact, speed limits are designed for driving in perfect conditions.  When the weather is a factor, you’ll need to driver at a slower speed than normal.

2.  You will have a hard time distinguishing between a stationary object and a moving one.  More specifically, you will have difficulty determining between parked cars and driving cars.  This could easily result in an accident if you are not careful.

3.  You may misjudge distance.  People instinctively judge that blurry objects are further away than clear ones.  With fog reducing contrast and clouding your viewpoint, you are more likely to misjudge just how far away another car or stationary object is, making car accidents far more likely.

4.  Foggy conditions can be further exasperated by faulty logic.  If you drive at night in the fog, you might think to use your high beams. NEVER USE YOUR HIGH BEAMS IN FOG.  Instead of increasing visibility, like you would think, using your brights will only serve to scatter more light back at you.  This will make conditions even worse.

3 Tips to Avoid a Car Accident

While fog makes for treacherous road conditions, there are ways in which you can avoid a car accident in these conditions.

1.  Take your time. In poor weather, take your time.  It’s better to arrive late than to rush and cause a car accident.

2.  Use your fog lights, if possible. Most experts believe that yellow or green lights reflect back less light than just your normal white lights.  White lights contain all the colors (more wavelengths), and experts have found that a single wavelength (yellow, green or blue) will allow for less reflection.

3.  Drive with extreme caution. Allow for a greater distance between you and the car in front of you.  Always travel at a slower speed than the posted speed limit as these conditions dictate lower speeds.

23. Deadly Curves

Some people call them dead man’s curves, but everyone should be careful when approaching a curve. Many motorists have lost control of their cars along a dangerous curve and lost their lives in a car accident. So when you approach these signs, take head of the posted speed limit and drive cautiously to avoid a car accident.
They are referred to as “Dead-man’s Curves” in movies and ghost tales, but dangerous roadway curves cause too many car accidents in real life.   These types of car accidents are often fatal or cause serious and crippling injuries.

Deadly curve-caused car accidents are often the result of speeding or inattentive driving.  Driving at high speeds and not realizing the severity of a turn can cause drivers to lose control of their cars, leave the road and slam into a barrier or tree.  A drunk driver is also at risk when approaching a deadly curve.

Caution Signs Prevent Car Accidents

Many times, drivers may be paying attention to the road but will misjudge the danger of an approaching curve.  As a result, transportation departments put signs before these dead-man’s curves.  There are two types of warning signs that will warn you of an upcoming curve.

1.  Curve & Corner Warning Signs. These signs are usually yellow in color and indicate that ahead are dangerous or unexpected bends in the road.  Curve warning signs usually describe the shape of the curve that you are approaching, whether the curve is to the right or to the left and also the degree to which the curves or bends are sharp and may also indicate a series of curves ahead of you.  These signs usually post an accompanying safe driving speed, which is lower than the posted speed limit.

2.  Chevron Arrows. These yellow arrow signs are often grouped as series of at least three signs that are placed at the actual location of the bend or curve.  These signs typically precede an especially dangerous curve and point the direction of it.  Drive carefully when you see approaching chevron arrows.

24. Animal Crossings

While drivers are required to know the rules of the roadway, wild animals do not take driver’s education. Wild animals will wade out into the street, and it’s up to you to make sure that you don’t get into a car accident with them. Take caution when you see an animal crossing sign and use your high beams when traveling in rural, woody areas.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that there are more than 1.5 million car crashes in the United States that involve deer or large animals.  From October through December (Deer Season), there are more deer-caused car accidents than any other time of year.  Therefore, you should be very careful when driving near deer or animal crossing signs.

From the middle of fall until the beginning of winter, you must be on the look-out for deer on the roadways.  Be especially cautious from dusk until dawn, the time wild animals are most likely to venture out in the roadways.  Also, animals tend not travel alone.  So if you see one, it would be wise to be on the lookout for others.

7 Tips to Avoid a Car Accident

If you should ever find yourself in the unenviable position of staring down a deer in the headlights:

1.  Try to avoid hitting the animal. While this is obvious, you should know that while hitting the animal could kill it, you are also in danger.  Your car could be severely damaged, but people have also died in car accidents with animals.

2.  Turn off your head lights. Once the lights go off, there is a chance that you can snap the animal out of its “deer in the headlights” trance.  If it hears your car coming before impact, it may find it safer to run away.

3.  Try not to hit straight-on. If you can hit an animal at an angle, there is a greater chance that it will spin away from the path of your car after impact.  Antlers are very sharp and could impale you.

4.  Slow down as much as you possibly can as you approach it. This will give the animal an extra moment to hopefully leave the road and lessen the resulting car accident.

5.  Remain in the same lane. This is how people get into car accidents with other cars.  You must be careful not to make a bad situation worse.

6.  Speed up at the last possible moment. While this seemingly conflicts with the above tip (to slow down), speeding up at the last moment will help an imminent impact.  By braking, the car’s inertia pushes the front bumper of your car downward, making it likely that the deer will roll over the car and put your life in extreme danger.  By speeding up at the last moment, your car’s front end will pull up and reduce the chances of the animal flipping over the top of the car.

7.  Never touch an animal after the accident. A frightened or wounded animal can be extremely dangerous.  You should contact police if the animal is dead or unable to move from the roadway.

25. Street Racing

Glorified by the Fast and the Furious movie franchise, street racing is an underground culture of fast cars and deadly car accidents. With turbo engines and nitrous oxide boosters, cars often reach very high speeds during a street race, making any resulting car accident much more dangerous and unlikely to yield any survivors.
Street races often cause serious car accidents and wrongful death.  Street racers are not usually injured in these automobile accidents, but instead, it’s innocent people who get injured.  Street racing is becoming more and more prevalent, and as the speeds increase so does the likelihood of serious injury in a car accident.

These races rarely end without incident.  By traveling at fast speeds, you will experience difficulty controlling your car.  Maybe this increased speed will lead to running a stop sign or a red light, a rollover accident or a catastrophic head-on collision.  If you lose control of your vehicle while speeding, your auto accident could be fatal.

Drag Racing Is Not the Only Problem

Our forensic engineers know that many people — adults and teenagers, alike — race their cars.  It’s not just ‘The Fast and the Furious” drag racing, either, as it can be as simple as two friends racing one another.  Next thing you know, one or both of them are involved in a fatal car accident.

Sadly, it seems that street racing is becoming more common and innocent families are left devastated because of subsequent automobile accidents.  We have seen the grief of those whose lives were torn apart by the death of a loved one in a car accident caused by street racing.  It is for that reason that we ask all fellow drivers on the road to consider the possible consequences of their actions if the idea of street racing ever pops into their mind.  Nobody wins a street race if it leads to wrongful death.

High Winds

High winds are an overlooked danger to drivers and cause many crashes out on the road each year, making them one of the top causes of car accidents. High winds are usually defined as sustained winds of at least 40 mph or gusts over 58 mph. They cause drivers to lose control of their cars as they can be pushed off the road.

Drivers that live in “Tornado Alley” in the South and Mid-Western states are in very high risk areas for extreme winds, but any area could be in danger of high wind caused auto accidents.

Our firm’s experienced forensic engineers would like to give you some helpful hints to keep in mind for driving in high winds:

1. Be on the lookout for tornado warnings. Tornadoes produce high winds sustained well over 100 mph which can toss cars for several miles up into the air. Unless you are a storm chaser, we recommend that you drive in the other direction of a twister and seek immediate shelter.

2. Maintain a safe distance from other cars. By staying as far away from other cars as possible, you can avoid an auto accident if another car is blown in your direction. Remember that larger automobiles are usually more susceptible to being blown over.

3. Never drive over downed power lines.  Even though they have been knocked over by the wind, these high-voltage wires may still be alive and very dangerous.

4. Avoid driving through water.  Water may appear shallow, but it may be quite deep, and the current, with the help of high winds, may be able to carry your car away.

5. It is also important to be aware of a sudden calm after a period of high winds. You may have found your way into the eye (or the middle) of the storm.  Just because it is quiet does not mean the storm is over.

If you keep these safety recommendations in mind, you should be able to avoid high wind-related car accidents.  There is a still a chance that you can get into a car accident if you drive in a risky situation like this.  When in doubt, avoid driving in these dangerous conditions.  If there is no way around driving in high winds, keep in mind these safety tips as they may help you arrive safely at your destination.

Loose Objects in Cars

Loose objects in cars can turn into dangerous items when a car accident happens.  If you think you cannot be hurt by loose objects during a car accident, think again.

Our firm’s forensic engineers want to remind you that when you are loading your car, it is essential to make sure that all loose objects in your car do not become lethal weapons in a crash.  Unsecured or loose objects in a vehicle are one of the top causes of car accidents.  Chances are that your car has one or two loose objects in it right now that can potentially transform into projectiles with lethal power when the force of a car accident is applied.

Always remember to never store objects in the driver’s foot-space because.  During under heavy braking or cornering, these items can move and reduce your ability to use the pedals.  They may get lodged under either the brake or the gas pedal, causing the driver to possibly lose control.  Even improperly designed or placed floor mats can slide forward each time you get in the car which could ultimately lead to a possible wrongful death accident.

Loose objects on the dashboard or center console such as CD cases, loose change, and mobile phones can be distracting as they slide around while the driver turns a corner. Put these items in your car’s storage compartments. Also, use the drink holders so you do not need to hold a drink between your legs while driving. Avoid the temptation created by leaving your handbag or briefcase on the front passenger’s seat for convenience in reaching over and grabbing something. Store it safely so that you have to stop the car to get at objects inside.

You should always keep the inside of your car clean and organized. Being aware of everything under your seat can prevent a car accident caused by a loose object. An empty bottle, tennis ball or various objects can move from under the seat and cause a pedal jam and lead to a car accident. Also, never leave large objects unrestrained on the backseat. Even in a small car accident, a light object could go flying through the air, striking and killing the occupants. Large items should be placed to make sure that the maximum amount of surface area makes contact with the backseats. Stowing luggage any other way causes heavy force in an automobile accident.

Police Car Chases

High speed police chases kill hundreds of people—including law enforcement officials, alleged criminals and innocent civilians—each year in the United States.  The wrongful deaths and personal injuries caused by a police chase makes them one of top causes of car accidents.  While authorities are engaged in high-speed police chases to capture a fleeing suspect, there can be a disregard for the safety of other drivers as officers continue the chase well after the danger outweighs the need to apprehend the suspect.

That is why two-thirds of those injured or killed in fatal car accidents stemming from a police chase are innocent drivers and pedestrians that have nothing to do with the chase.

Our forensic engineers are especially sensitive to news involving police chases and are concerned that the police might be putting the public at risk when trying to catch someone who’s breaking the law.

Pursuits by law enforcement on the road are even more dangerous than commonly thought.  More people in the United States are killed by high speed pursuits than they are by police firearms, and yet, these wrongful deaths from car accidents will likely continue year after year.  That is why we must convince police departments to modify their pursuit policies to only chase offenders when the following occurs:

• It is safe to follow and pursue a suspect.
• Only chase a fleeing driver when forcible felonies are involved.

In a minor case, such as a shoplifting incident, it makes little or no sense for the police to pursue such a suspect at high speeds in a metropolitan area where it is likely to hurt innocent bystanders.  When the police chase a suspect for a non-violent act or a minor offense and someone is killed, then, we as a society must ask ourselves if the good outweighs the bad.

Some of the most enlightened police departments throughout the country have neglected to establish chase policies.  Yet, even with the police departments that have pursuit policies, the average patrol officer receives little or no training about the terms of such rules.

In short, the best laws are those which emphasize that the officers in pursuit must always be aware that, during any police chase innocent, drivers can be killed or injured in a car accident.  This will require them to assess whether the need to capture the fleeing driver is greater than is the need to protect the public from potential auto accidents caused by the police chase.  Of course, do not forget that law enforcement have alternative ways to keep track of drivers that evade capture, helicopters for instance.

It is important for officers to be able to make calm, rational decisions in a police chase.  Doing so would lead to overall safety of the general public and prevent needless car accidents.