Over the last few years, it’s become clear that fatal car accidents are getting more common. For one thing, the total number of fatal accidents each year has gone up. But it’s also important to point out that traffic levels have gone down, so the fatal accident rate has increased even more than the raw statistics would suggest.
But why is this happening? Cars are safer than they ever have been before, with new technology designed to prevent accidents and keep people safe. Plus, if traffic levels are down, wouldn’t that suggest that there would be fewer total accidents? Why is it the opposite is occurring?
Driving behaviors are different than they used to be
It’s a bit difficult to pin down, but it seems that driving behaviors have changed. People are taking more risks. Common reasons cited for this increase in deadly car accidents are distracted driving, excessive speeding, reckless driving and impaired driving. There’s also some evidence that people are using their seatbelts less often, which can make a fatality more likely in a crash.
Part of the reason for this may be that there was less traffic on the roads. In high-traffic areas, congestion usually keeps speeds down. Accidents may still occur, but they are less likely to be fatal at low speeds. When that traffic congestion was reduced, people naturally sped up as a result, perhaps making it more likely that they would be killed if they were involved in a crash.
Have you lost a loved one?
Unfortunately, you can be a safe driver and still be involved in a serious accident caused by someone else. If you’ve suffered injuries or lost a loved one in such a crash, be sure you know how to seek compensation.