In the year 2007 there were approximately 10.6 million automotive accidents in the United States (Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities). Distracted drivers, driver fatigue, drunk driving, aggressive driving, and weather are the most common reasons for those accidents (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). This number has stabilized over the past few years, but is still way too high. In 1980 there were about 17.9 million accidents, in 1995 there were about 10.7 million, in 2003 there were 11.8 million and finally in 2005 there were about 10.7 million (Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities). Even though the number of accidents is slowly declining, American drivers are still involved in a high number of automotive accidents each year that are caused mostly due to human negligence.
Though there are many different causes of accidents, distracted driving is the leading cause (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). Anything that takes the drivers attention away from the road is considered a distraction. Texting, rubbernecking, or slowing down to view something else account for 16% of all distraction-related crashes , driver fatigue accounts for about 12%, viewing scenery accounts for about 10%, other passengers or children account for 9%, adjusting music accounts for 7% and reading documents accounts for less than 2% of distraction-related crashes (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). 8 states have already taken the steps to eliminating the use of cell phones on the roads (State Cell Phone Use and Texting While Driving Laws). This will definitely cut back on the accident rate in those states due to the fact that cell phone usage is one of the number one reasons for automotive accidents. More than 85% of the estimated 100 million cell phone users use their phone regularly while driving (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). Driver fatigue accounts for 100,000 accidents a year (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). Symptoms of driver fatigue include heavy eyelids, frequent yawning, a drifting vehicle that wanders over road lines, varying vehicle speed for no reason, and misjudging traffic situations (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). The most effective way to avoid driver fatigue is to get a good amount of sleep before long trips and if you feel the symptoms of driver fatigue then you should pull of the road and rest. Drunk driving is responsible for about 40% of all car crashes. (Drunk Driving Accident Statistics) Driving drunk is classified by having a blood alcohol concentration level below .08%. Alcohol-related car crashes kill someone every 45 minutes and injure someone every two minutes. (Drunk Driving Accident Statistics) Drunken driving accidents cost the public around $114.3 billion a year (Drunk Driving Accident Statistics). Much like distracted driving, aggressive driving is very easy to do and very dangerous. Aggressive driving is classified as anyone who operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of the streets and highways (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). Aggressive tailgating, flashing lights because you’re irritated at another driver, aggressive or rude gestures, deliberately preventing another driver from moving their vehicle, verbal abuse, disregarding traffic signals, and failure to yield to the right of way are all examples of aggressive driving (6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes). There are many more causes of accidents, like speeding or weather, but the most common such as drunk driving and aggressive driving are the main reasons why millions of people die every year on the road.
The after effects of automotive accidents can be just as devastating as the actual accident. Bodily injuries due to accidents are quite common and sometimes can be serious and life threatening. The most common injuries from automotive accidents are whiplash and minor to major back and neck problems. Neck injuries vary from whiplash to disk injuries (Car Accident Injuries). Whiplash is an injury that frequently results from rear end impacts. Whiplash injures the soft tissues made up of nerves, ligaments and muscles (Car Accident Injuries). It causes neck pain and limitation of neck and head movement affecting rotation and peripheral vision (Car Accident Injuries). Thoracic, mid-back, disks and lumbar, lower back, disks may also be injured in car accidents (Car Accident Injuries). Along with neck and back injuries hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and fingers are commonly injured in accidents (Car Accident Injuries). In most cases major accidents cause major injuries and minor accidents cause little or no injury.
Car accidents are never a good thing and are usually difficult to deal with. To avoid being involved in an accident there are a number of things to do. Avoid being in the fast lane. By using the center or right lane, you have more escape routes should a problem suddenly arise that requires a change of lanes or to pull onto the shoulder. Most highway accidents occur in the left lane. (Prevent a Car Accident). Keep your eyes scanning the area ahead. Watching what is going on ahead and on both sides increases the chance of seeing a problem before it’s too late. It also prevents rear ending the car in front (Prevent a Car Accident). Another good idea is to judge a driver by his or her car’s condition. If there is a brand new Mercedes C-Class on the road then chances are that driver is going to try and make decisions that will keep the car in good shape. Also, drifting lanes could suggest a tired, drunk or distracted driver--so it is best to keep away. The last thing is to know your car’s limits. Knowing how long it takes for the car to stop when maximum pressure is applied and knowing the brakes is important in case the car needs to stop quickly.
Overall, Americans are very distracted and short tempered drivers. Though the number of automotive accidents is slowly but surely declining, there are still too many fatalities due to driver error. New laws banning cell phone usage are slowly making way across the country and hopefully soon fatalities and injuries due to accidents will dwindle.
Works cited
1. "Car Accident Injuries." Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney & Wrongful Death Lawyer | Frank Pasternak & Associates S.C. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. http://www.frankpasternak.com/car_accident_injuries.htm
2. "Drunk Driving Accident Statistics: Alcohol-Related Car Crash Deaths." Edgar Snyder & Associates - Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys. Web. 15 Sept. 2010. http://www.edgarsnyder.com/drunk-driving/statistics.html
3. Pardilla, Caroline. "Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident." New Cars, Used Cars, Car Reviews and Pricing - Edmunds.com. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/107098/article.html
4. “The 2010 Statistical Abstract: Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities." Census Bureau Home Page. Web. 15 Sept. 2010. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/transportation/motor_vehicle_accidents_and_fatalities.html
5. "The 6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes." Healthy Family - Health and Wealth, Home Safety, Health, Relationship, Growing Family. Web. 15 Sept. 2010. http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/07/20/the-6-most-common-causes-of-automobile-crashes.htm
6. "State Cell Phone Use and Texting While Driving Laws." Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2010. http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html
Your paper sounds really good and it looks like you did a lot of credible research. Suggestion-maybe define each of your three points in your thesis.
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