With its heavy traffic, construction zones, and busy intersections, it can be a challenge to drive through the US. Most people work around these obstacles just fine, but car accidents still happen. Every driver needs to know what causes most car crashes so they can minimize their own risk of being in one.
Distracted Driving
With the prevalence of smartphones, in-car entertainment systems, and fast food establishments, distractions are all around us. Drivers underestimate the danger of taking their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds. As such, distracted driving has quickly become one of the leading causes of accidents in the United States.
Cell phones are probably the most dangerous distraction. Studies have shown that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash. Even just talking on the phone reduces a person’s attention while driving by 37%. If you were involved in an accident because of a negligent driver, you might have a car accident claim, contact a car accident lawyer to get legal assistance on your case.
Speeding
America’s fast-paced environment can tempt drivers to travel over the speed limit. However, speeding greatly reduces the time a driver has to react to sudden changes on the road. Speeding also makes accidents worse because of the greater impact forces. Speed is often a factor in fatal crashes.
Driving too fast is especially dangerous because of the unpredictable traffic. Many speeding accidents happen on long stretches of road where people feel comfortable pushing speed limits and then run into obstacles they can’t avoid.
Drunk Driving
Driving while drunk is a serious issue in our city. Alcohol impairs a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and coordination, making it extremely dangerous to get behind the wheel. Crashes with drunk drivers usually happen at night or on the weekends when social activities are taking place.
The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is between 0.05% and 0.08% in the US, but for some people, impairment can start with just one drink. Accidents involving alcohol tend to be more severe, and the consequences often extend far beyond the immediate damage.
Running Red Lights and Stop Signs
Impatience, distraction, and poor judgment can cause a person to ignore or fail to notice traffic signals. Running lights or stop signs can cause T-bone collisions, which are particularly dangerous. The sides of vehicles don’t have as much protection as the front or back, so people are more likely to get hurt.
Traffic signal violations usually happen at busy intersections where drivers try to beat lights so they don’t have to wait. With its mix of busy streets, foot traffic, and cyclists, residents are at a high risk of getting into accidents when someone runs a red light or stop sign.
Bad Weather
Some states in the United States don’t usually deal with snow and ice, but those aren’t the only weather conditions that contribute to car crashes. Rain can lead to slippery pavement and hydroplaning, and fog reduces visibility and reaction times.
Furthermore, the weather can be unpredictable. Sudden rain storms often catch drivers off guard, and the occasional ice storm does pop up during the winter months. When drivers don’t adjust their habits to match the conditions, accidents become much more likely.
Construction
There’s almost always some kind of construction project going on in the country, specifically in big cities such as Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, etc. Drivers often see detours, narrow lanes, and workers on the road as they travel around the city. Uneven surfaces, sudden lane closures, and abrupt stops require their full attention to avoid a crash.
Construction zones create a lot of frustration, but they’re a necessary evil in keeping our infrastructure up to date. Reduced speed limits and lane shifts are meant to keep everyone safe, but drivers who are impatient or in a hurry can cause accidents in these areas.
Road Rage
Tailgating, lane hopping, cutting people off, and other aggressive actions are seen a lot. This reckless behavior from drivers increases the risk of a crash and can also trigger road rage incidents.
While road rage usually just involves people getting angry and shouting at each other, it can also escalate and become deadly. A rager’s unpredictable movements could catch other drivers off guard and cause a severe accident where someone gets badly injured or killed.
Tired Drivers
In a society that regularly doesn’t get enough sleep, far too many people get behind the wheel when they’re overly tired. When you add in the monotony of long commutes and late work hours, you’ve got a recipe for disaster — especially in a busy city with lots of heavy traffic.
Tired drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers. They have slower reaction times and a reduced ability to focus. They also don’t always make sound decisions. Drowsy driving affects a person’s alertness, making them far more likely to drift into another lane or fall asleep behind the wheel.
Tailgating
Though sometimes seen in road rage incidents, tailgating is also a common bad driving habit. Rear-end collisions often happen because a driver follows another car too closely. In many instances, stop-and-go traffic patterns mean that there is no margin for error.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends keeping a safe following distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Ideally, the following distance should be around three or four seconds, but that may increase in hazardous road conditions.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
When a person slacks on their car’s maintenance, important parts can malfunction or even fail altogether. Blown tires, missing lights, and bad brakes are the usual culprits, but other broken parts can cause problems, too.
Even a weak battery or faulty alternator can cause an accident. These parts keep the vehicle running, and when they don’t work, a driver can end up stranded on the side of the road. This may not seem dangerous, but if another driver passing by isn’t paying attention, they could strike the car that’s sitting on the shoulder and cause serious injuries.
Staying Safe on US Roads
Knowing the most common causes of car accidents is the first step toward preventing them. By staying aware of these risks and practicing safer driving habits, everyone can do their part to make our roads safer.
In a country as dynamic and vibrant as the US, all road users can take responsibility behind the wheel to ensure the safety of both themselves and other drivers.
© 2025 Citywide Law Group. All rights reserved.