There are millions of reported motor vehicle accidents across the country each year, as well as millions of accident-related injuries and thousands of traffic fatalities. What bad driving habit is causing the most harm on American roadways? According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver distraction could be causing the most crashes, but speeding could be causing the most deaths.
How Common is Distracted Driving?
Getting exact information about how many crashes are caused by distracted driving is difficult, mainly because drivers do not want to admit when they were driving while distracted. Most drivers instinctively know that texting, applying makeup, eating, talking to passengers, and so forth is dangerous when driving, so they are ashamed when they cause a crash because of it. Many others know that engaging in some of the most common forms of driver distractions is also unlawful, so they make up another excuse as to why they crashed when talking to first responders.
Despite peoples’ proclivity to lie about their distracted driving habits, the National Safety Council still estimates it to be the leading cause of car accidents each year. In some reports, distracted driving is attributed to about 26% of all crashes, but others estimate that number should actually be as high as 40% or 50%.
With the advent of affordable smartphones, practically everyone has a major distraction right at their fingertips whenever they are behind the wheel. The rate of distracted driving accidents has predictably gone up as smartphone ownership has increased, too.
Is Speeding the Deadliest Form of Driver Habits?
Since reliable information regarding driver distraction is intrinsically difficult to gather, it is equally difficult to know how many traffic deaths are caused by distraction. On the other hand, crash investigators, insurance adjusters, police officers, and others can reliably use their training and instincts to know when speeding has caused a motor vehicle accident. Everything from eyewitness testimony and tire skid marks to the severity of vehicular destruction can all suggest when speeding was a factor in a crash.
According to NHTSA, 29 percent of traffic fatalities are caused by speeding in the U.S. Data regarding the actual number of preventable lives lost over the last five years are:
- 2024: 11,288
- 2023: 11,775
- 2022: 12,151
- 2021: 12,330
- 2020: 11,258
Given these statistics, it can be said that speeding is the leading cause of traffic fatalities based on data that can be readily confirmed. It is important to note that speeding does not only mean driving faster than the posted speed limit. Speeding is also driving too fast for given driving conditions, i.e. driving too quickly during a rainstorm despite traveling under regular speed limits is still dangerous and can cause a serious crash.
Is Reckless Driving a Factor in Motor Vehicle Accidents?
The quick answer to this question is a resounding yes. Unfortunately, reckless driving is a leading and officially recognized cause of car crashes in Los Angeles. Our local police department consistently identifies aggressive driving behaviors as primary factors in the city’s collisions and resulting injuries and fatalities.
Reckless driving often manifests in several high-risk behaviors in Los Angeles, from excessive speeding to improper lane changes. Driving significantly over the posted speed limit or too fast for traffic conditions, while weaving, cutting off other drivers, or merging unsafely is dangerous. Running red lights, ignoring stop signs, aggressively following other cars too closely during rush hour, and even street racing are persistent problems in several Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Under California Vehicle Code § 23103, reckless driving means that you are operating a vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. If someone is driving recklessly and causes an accident, you have the right to pursue personal injury claims for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. In the most severe cases, such as drunk driving, you may also be entitled to punitive damages.
How Fatigue Contributes to Motor Vehicle Accidents
Fatigue causes motor vehicle accidents in Los Angeles by severely impairing a driver’s abilities. Operating a motor vehicle when you are tired is dangerous because the cognitive impairments are similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. Prolonged mental and physical exhaustion of navigating stop-and-go LA traffic greatly increases the risk of a crash, because you may experience:
- Slower reaction times, difficulty braking, or steering away from sudden hazards to avoid rear-end collisions.
- Exhaustion that reduces your ability to accurately judge speed, distance, and changing traffic conditions.
- Microsleeps for up to 5 seconds, and at highway speeds, you could travel the length of a football field during a brief blackout.
The city of Los Angeles is especially dangerous for drowsy drivers. Our city’s unique layout and heavy congestion amplify the risks of drowsy driving, in part due to heavy stop-and-go traffic. Commuters navigating notoriously congested routes, like the I-10, and both mental and physical exhaustion, dramatically increase the risk of accidents. But road congestion is not the only concern for fatigued drivers.
The sheer number of massive commercial freight trucks and 18-wheelers on LA-area highways poses another deadly threat. Fatigued truck drivers have difficulty maneuvering their heavy vehicles, often drifting into other lanes or failing to brake for stopped traffic. These conditions worsen at night, when fatigue-related crashes peak between midnight and 6:00 a.m. LA’s nightlife and freight-shipping industries keep the roads highly active despite our body’s natural sleep rhythms.
What About Other Types of Driving Habits?
Although driver distractions and speeding are most likely the two worst offenders for causing traffic collisions, other bad habits and issues should not be overlooked. Drunk driving still remains a menace to roadway safety, even though the total number of drunk driving crashes has either slightly declined or held relatively steady in recent years.
Poor road conditions also cause serious accidents each year, which is particularly frustrating given that local municipalities and transportation departments should be monitoring and maintaining roads regularly. There are also many crashes and injuries caused directly by a mechanical failure, such as brake failures, weak tires that burst, and explosive airbags.
Were You in a Motor Vehicle Accident? Let Us Discuss the Cause
The lesson overall is that car accidents and related injuries can happen for a variety of reasons, so it is always best to take precautions as you can. You should keep a trusted personal injury law firm’s number saved in your phone, so you can call them in a hurry in case you ever are injured in a motor vehicle accident.
You deserve the aggressive representation that our team of legal advocates at LNN provides. Do not let someone’s negligence on the road cost you your hobbies, livelihood, or your relationship with loved ones. Make an appointment for our free consultation with one of our team members now and learn more about your options for compensation.
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