Have you ever been in a traffic accident? Did you lose a very dear one in an unexpected road crash?
We all have been there at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, Hundreds of people die or get injured in these road accidents daily. What is heartbreaking is that this death rate can be easily reduced and precious lives can be saved.
Let us discuss the causes of traffic accidents or road accidents and ways to prevent them.
What can Cause Traffic Accidents?
None wants to hurt another person intentionally. Traffic nowadays is growing so much that the number of these accidents is increasing without control. Here are some commonly identified reasons behind traffic accidents.
Distracted Driving
What causes the greatest number of accidents on the road is Distracted Driving. Humans fail to understand that their brain is incapable of focusing on multiple things at the same time normally. Breaking traffic rules, the drivers or riders continue to use mobile phones on the road. Some even continue to eat while driving. This causes a loss of focus on the road ending in terrible traffic accidents.
Drunk Driving
Researches show that an average of 29 deaths per day are caused because of Drunk Driving. People are unaware of the calamities they can cause just by breaking one traffic rule. Traffic Police also try to ensure that such situations do not occur, but the damage is still there.
Driving at High Speed
Most of us are always Running late to work or school in the morning, or we want to get home as soon as possible in the evening. In this hurry, many starts driving over the speed limit or do not follow the traffic signals. The result of this irresponsible behavior is someone ending up injured or dead.
Avoiding /Ignoring Traffic Signals and Road Signs
Research shows that about 40% of car accidents occur at junctions. People do not follow traffic rules and ignore traffic signals and stop signs. Ignoring one signal or sign and a significant risk of injury to you or someone innocent or even killing yourself or others.
Irresponsible Driving
Changing routes too quickly and blatantly ignoring the safety and/or property of others is a common cause of road crashes. You might purposely fail to abide by cautionary measures are only some characteristics of reckless driving.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving involves traffic violations that threaten other drivers or property, including speeding.
Health Issues causing traffic accidents
It is normal to get sleepy, tired or exhausted after a full day of work or a long drive. You might just be sick. It impairs your ability to competently respond, react, or discern conditions on the road ending up in traffic accidents.
Common Traffic Hazards and their Identification
In addition to identifying the common causes of traffic accidents, it is also essential to locate some potential traffic hazards that can cause road accidents. Some of these hazards are:
- Automobiles appearing at intersections
- Car doors unlocking without warning
- Vehicles moving off or coming out of parking
- Pedestrians appearing on the roads
- School junction patrols
- Children heading out from between parked cars or playing at the side of the road
- Animals heading out into the road
- Cyclists and motorcyclists driving recklessly
- Narrow country lanes, likely only wide adequately for one vehicle
- Sharp turns
- Blind junctions covered by overgrown trees and shrubs
- Unmarked junction
- Pedestrians walking on the opposite side of the road
- Farm animals entering the road
- Slow-moving vehicles hindering the visibility
After identifying the root causes of traffic accidents let us discuss the traffic rules that have to be followed to make sure that these accidents do not occur.
Checklist of Traffic Rules that Have to be Followed
Traffic rules are a list of guidelines that have to be followed in order to avoid any traffic accidents or incidents on roads. Some of these rules are universal while some are defined countrywide like the traffic rules in Pakistan.
- Drive at a safe speed limit as per the guidelines.
- Maintain a safe distance between automobiles.
- Do not cut off other cars.
- Make sure you have your eyes on the road and do not lose focus.
- Do not stop or park on the main road.
- Do not drive on the shoulder.
- Vacate passing routes open.
- Highways or Motorways are one-way traffic.
- Warn drivers behind you about traffic jams ahead of you.
- Be conscious of the angle of your headlight beams.
- Do a full check and modification before departure.
- Always wear a seatbelt.
- Avoid distractions.
- Do not cross the speed limit.
- Service your car regularly
- Follow traffic sign
- Uphold lane discipline
- Be careful during bad weather especially storms, floods, and earthquakes that can result in serious traffic accidents.
- Maintain a safe distance.
- Make yourself as visible as possible from the sides as well as from the front and rear. You can wear a white or brightly colored helmet. Wear fluorescent clothing or strips. Even in good daylight, dipped headlights may also make you more conspicuous.
- Before changing direction, you should be aware of what is behind and on the sides. Look behind you; use mirrors that must be fitted.
- Wear reflective clothing or strips to improve your chances of being seen in the dark.
- On no occasion drink or eat while driving.
- Follow the traffic signals, lights, signs, and road marking signs.
- Avoid using cell phone when driving. If an urgent move to the left, stop and then take the call
- Do not drive or ride at high speeds. You may lose control and cause traffic accidents.
- You should always use a helmet. Helmets must be of correct pattern as per the Regulations and be fastened securely.
- Do not ride or wheel your vehicle onto the footpath.
- Don’t leave your lane, don’t be hasty stay calm in case of a traffic jam.
- Use your lights when traveling at night . Low visibility can cause traffic accidents.
- Understanding the signals given by other road users.
- Never stop abruptly in traffic. Move to the left and slow down.
- When passing a stationery vehicle, allow sufficient clearance for the car doors, which may open suddenly.
- Do not try and weave your way through stationery or slow-moving traffic. It may cause traffic accidents.
- Slow down at the zebra crossing. It is better to stop.
- Always ride with both hands on the handlebar except when signaling.
- Don’t allow children to sit on fuel tanks or stand in front of the rider.
- Avoid using brakes at turns. If needed, guarantee both brakes are applied moderately.
How to Recover from a Traffic Violation Accident?
Suppose another driver is injured because they were engaged in a traffic violation. In that case, a personal injury lawyer is the best support as the sufferer work toward recovery. Their lawyer can help them collect the proof they will need to prove the motorist. It is essential to show who is accountable for causing their accident and committing a moving violation that directly resulted in traffic accidents.
Experienced personal injury lawyers have many strategies they can employ to help their clients prove penalties for traffic violation accident injuries. It’s possible to submit warrants for traffic camera data, vehicle computer data, cell phone records, and more. The lawyer can also help them pinpoint eyewitnesses who saw the accident. In some cases, the lawyer may need to consult expert witnesses like engineers or accident reconstruction experts to help them prove fault for a moving violation traffic accident.
There are many ways that traffic accidents occur. Sometimes they are not the direct results of any driver’s actions but rather unforeseen circumstances beyond anyone’s control, such as bad weather, poor road conditions, or unpredictable automated failures. Suppose one is unsure whether another party bears the blame for the traffic accident. In that case, you must consult an attorney as soon as possible to determine your best legal options.
1. Maintenance of Road
Maintenance is the first problem that comes to most drivers’ minds when they think of traffic safety hazards. Many things that one can do to alleviate this problem. Set up an emergency hotline to get prompt reports of dangerous pothole locations and other maintenance problems before they become traffic safety hazards. Pay more attention to long-life repairs that won’t continue the repeat-pothole spectacles in many cities because they cause traffic accidents significantly.
Setting aside city tax road funds or a portion of state or local gasoline taxes as a dedicated fund can help pay for the needed repairs.
2. Overloading
Road crowding keeps climbing, creating a safety hazard. Better intersection traffic light time, the use of roundabouts to reduce traffic stopping time, and the use of Automatic Transportation Systems to keep drivers informed of potential traffic jams can all help as much as building additional streets or lanes.
3. Intersections
Since almost a quarter of all fatal road accidents occur at intersections, poorly designed meetings present a serious street safety hazard. About 85% of traffic accidents happen at junctions with no signal. Add road signs, add warning signs and consider using rumble strips where signals may be unexpected. Roundabouts can move traffic safely through intersections in more significant portions, pruning maintenance per-signal costs. The use of traffic alerts can help, too, by moving heavy traffic for more extended periods.
4. Utilities Woes
Utility maintenance or construction can create a potent traffic hazard in any town. Since many of these jobs are short-term, inadequate work-zone warnings are set up. Cities can solve this problem by mandating minimum work-zone standards and training workers who will set up the sites. Traffic Police need to enforce these traffic rules.
5. Driver Behavior
Driver behavior is perhaps the most significant traffic safety hazard. 41% of road fatalities include alcohol, and 54% of drivers say they have experienced feelings of road rush. Driver schooling and enforcement of automobile controls, as well as reduced and implemented drink limits on the road, provide tools with good ways to secure poor driver manners.
Conclusion
Human life is very precious. It is important for us to understand that ignorance of traffic rules is a serious threat and can hurt an innocent life. Law enforcement authorities should ensure that the public is fully aware of traffic rules, traffic hazards, and protocols to follow. Eastern Highway ensures that the Traffic lights and Traffic Sign Boards used are understandable and based on criteria.