Road traffic accidents continue to kill, maim and ruin the lives of their victims. What is the reason that there has not been an elimination of this deadly highway scourge? There is not one answer to this question, but some patterns are obvious. Speed plays a major role in accident statistics. Driver distraction is increasingly a factor, as is impairment of judgment by drugs or alcohol. Weather conditions often play a part, but the most rapidly growing cause of accidents today is the operation of vehicles by people who feel entitled to defend their position of “King of the Road.”
As a society we must make the practice of road rage politically incorrect and worthy of severe punishment. We cannot afford to accept any excuses for this deadly behavior if we want it to stop. There should be provisions for special deterrents to be imposed on drivers who choose to throw their weight around on the highway. All drivers have to put up with the frustrations of the commute. No one should feel free to threaten the safety of other travelers just because he dislikes the highway congestion.
Some drivers seem to see themselves as participants in the Indy Five Hundred as they rush to their destinations. Their speeds are totally inappropriate to their location, and they feel no need to signal their intentions or consider the reaction times of other drivers. No wonder speeding is frequently cited as the cause of accidents. Heavier fines and driving suspensions would slow them down.
Henry Ford could not have anticipated the luxury and the high-tech nature of today’s vehicles. We increase the gadgets in our vehicles at out own risk, because they distract us and make us inattentive to the movement of other vehicles. The human eye should be trained directly on the road while operating a vehicle. We should not be punching in phone numbers or texting, not ever.
There has been a significant decrease in impairment related accidents in recent years. However, there is still a need for further reduction in this type of accident. We could reduce it to zero, with effort.
We cannot affect the weather conditions. But we can prevent accidents by driving appropriately for the weather situation. We can even stay off the road if things are truly precarious.
Clearly, most road traffic accidents are preventable. All it would take is a sincere commitment on the part of all drivers to change their driving habits. That is all it would take. However, so far, this kind of thinking does not appear to be catching on with the drivers we see tearing down our highways.
Jo Wilson is an expert in accident claims. If you want more information about road traffic accidents claims or are looking for a trusted law firm please visit http://personalinjury.ffw.com
