Car accidents are no rare thing. But while most people have already found themselves in a car crash or have witnessed one, very little information is known about just how prevalent and dangerous they are. Since knowledge is power, it is essential for us to understand the underlying facts and figures on the activities and events that surround our everyday life.
While this knowledge may not directly contribute to the reduction of car crashes, it eventually works to shape the nature of decisions we make while on the road. Below are 12 car crash facts you need to know:
1. They Lead to the Loss of Nearly 1.25 Million Lives Annually
A central theme in car crashes is that they often result in the loss of human life and injury. Nearly 1.25 million human lives are lost in car crashes on an annual basis. This is equivalent to 3.287 deaths in a day.
Also, 20-50 million people suffer injuries or become disabled. This eventually leads to financial strain amongst many families when the breadwinners die or become permanently disabled. The treatment and recovery of those involved in accidents also drain the families of those involved financially and emotionally.
2. They Occur Most Frequently in August
Research has revealed that most accidents happen during the warmer seasons. When it is warmer, there are more people on the roads. This is usually vacation time in most regions across the world. Late summer is the prime time for the occurrence of car crashes.
August has been singled out as the month in which you are more prone to being involved in an accident. In 2013 for instance, all fatal crashes that occurred in this month accounted for 10% of all the car crashes that happened in that year.
This means that you will need to be extra careful as you head out for vacation during this period in a bid to not only preserve your life but to also preserve that of other drivers.
3. They Occur Least Frequently in February
In the cold weather, few people are usually out of their houses driving around. The reduced number of cars on the road is accompanied by a decline in the occurrence of road accidents. This is not a sign for you to be reckless on the roads, however, since road conditions are typically worse thanks to ice, rain, and snow.
In February, when it is coldest, the number of accidents has been observed to be the lowest. Generally, the accidents recorded in this month account for 6% of all fatal crashes recorded in a year.
4. Someone Dies Every 52 minutes in an Alcohol-Related Accident
It is well known that drugs are a significant cause of accidents on the roads. Alcohol is one of the most consumed legal drugs in most parts of the world. Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited and is punishable by law.
In 2013, more than 10,000 alcohol-related car crash deaths were recorded. This figure accounted for 31% of all fatal accidents that occurred that year.
This is indeed an eye-opener that the effects of drunk driving are a reality, and those intending to drink should seek out alternative means of travel. Statistics show that someone dies in an accident every 52 minutes in all alcohol-related car crashes.
5. Fatal Car Crashes Are Highest in Low and Middle-Income Nations
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 90% of fatal car accidents occur in the low and middle-income nations. This is extremely unfortunate considering that these countries own less than half of the cars in the world.
There are underlying factors that further contribute to the occurrence of car crashes in these nations such as lack of civic education on the necessity of obeying traffic rules, and poor infrastructure. Also, many of the cars used in these nations are not roadworthy. All these factors combined contribute to the high rates of car crash deaths in the low and middle-income countries.
6. Speeding Accounts for 30% of All the Globally Recorded Car Crashes
The love for fast cars is an ever-growing phenomenon in today’s world. Those who are not in a position to buy their fast cars still love the thrill of using their regular vehicles to race. Unfortunately, this has led to many lives being lost on the roads.
Since the impact caused by fast traveling cars is huge, the fatality of speed-related accidents is also massive. Speeding not only endangers the lives of those traveling in the fast car but also the lives of other people who may be, at the time of the accident, abiding by the traffic rules.
This is the reason 30 % of all car crashes that happen on a global scale are attributed to speeding. While there are many rules and penalties to manage this issue, this figure remains significantly high.
7. Cell Phone Usage Makes You 23x More Likely to Crash Your Car
Many of us like multitasking even in instances when we should not be doing so. One relevant example is texting while driving.
Studies have established that brain activity is reduced by 37% when a driver uses their cell phone as they drive. The reduction of concentration on the activities happening on the road has far-reaching effects.
Drivers are 23 times likely to crash their cars if they are using their cell phone while on the road.
When a driver receives or sends texts as they drive, this usually diverts their attention from the road to their phone for around 4.6 seconds. This is the equivalent to driving the whole length of a football field, blind, at a speed of 55 miles per hour. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that cell phone usage is a very potent cause of car crashes on the roads.
If you or someone you know is injured by a distracted driver, you can seel legal recourse by visiting this site and getting a lawyer.
8. Seatbelts Reduce the Risk of Car Crash-Related Deaths by 45%
You might be going about your day thinking how much strapping in the seatbelt bothers you. Also, you may only be strapping in the seatbelt on just because the law requires that of you, and you would not want to portray a poor image of yourself or get a ticket.
What you may not know is that the use of seatbelts has been discovered to reduce the risk of car crash-related deaths by 45%. This should be reason enough to be grateful for the invention of the seatbelt and how it reduces the fatality of the injuries in car crashes. Next time you strap in, thank your seatbelt for having your back (and your front).
9. Car Crashes Are One of the Leading Causes of Death
The world is currently experiencing rapid industrialization, a thing that has come with its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages have happened in the form of inventions and activities that place human life in danger. Diseases, suicide, and terrorism are some of the most common causes of death.
A shocking realization, however, is that car crashes are predicted to become the 5th leading cause of the loss of life by 2030. This is bound to happen if no action is taken on traffic law offenders and to reduce the causes of road accidents.
Currently, car crashes are ranked 9th amongst the leading causes of death. Because of this, they should be viewed as a significant threat to humanity and it, therefore, needs to be addressed by policymakers and government institutions immediately.
10. The Total Global Financial Loss Caused by Car Accidents Is $518 Billion
Car crashes not only lead to the loss of life and disastrous injuries but also substantial financial losses. Huge amounts of money are usually spent on the medical bills of those involved in the accidents, to organize burial ceremonies, to cover claims and to refurbish the damaged property.
It is estimated that car crashes usually cost the world a total of $518 billion. If car crashes were minimized, this money could be used for so many other productive things, like healthy private economic spending, infrastructure investment and so much more.
11. Single-Vehicle Crashes Are More Frequent Than Multiple-Vehicle Crashes
Car crashes are usually categorized into two ways: single-vehicle crashes and multiple-vehicle crashes. The figures associated with each crash type differ significantly. The difference is evident when you investigate the number of cars involved and in the number of deaths recorded in each.
In 2017, 54% of the car crash deaths that were reported in the US occurred in single-vehicle crashes. Only 46% of the total car crash deaths involved multiple vehicles, including motorcycles and other road vehicles. This translates to the fact that the most frequent crash types are the ones that merely comprise a single car.
12. Car Crashes Result in Property Damage 72% of the Time
We all tend to pay attention to the number of lives lost and the number of injured people when an accident happens. What most people don’t realize is that a lot of private and public property is also damaged. Property damage results in significant financial losses to those involved.
It has been established that 72% of all car crashes that occur in the United States result in property damage. Only 6% of all car crashes result in a fatality. This clearly shows that property owners suffer the most when road accidents happen.
Now That You Know These Car Crash Facts…
Hopefully, you will understand what a serious responsibility driving on the road with your fellow human being is. Next time you get behind the wheel of a car, remember these stats. Understanding these car crash facts, and the dangers of the road will make you safer.
If you’d like any more interesting facts about cars or anything else under the sun, be sure to check out the Interesting Facts section of our site!