The overall trend for fatal car accidents, when you look at data going back over the decades, shows that they are slowly becoming less common. Cars are getting safer and new technology is helping to keep people safe even if they’re not actually becoming better drivers than they were before. For instance, an automatic lane departure warning system can help someone who tends to drift out of their lane.
However, statistics from recent years show that fatal accidents are actually becoming more common and happening with a greater frequency. Technology certainly hasn’t gotten worse, so what has changed?
An increase in speeding
One thing that happened over the last few years is that there wasn’t as much traffic on the roads, so people were more likely to speed. Traffic congestion can be frustrating, but it also does naturally reduce speeds, which reduces the odds of a fatal crash. At higher speeds, the same crash may take place and be fatal instead of just causing injuries.
Distracted driving
As much as technology has helped make the car safer, it has also made drivers more dangerous. They are very likely to get distracted by things like a GPS system or a smartphone, and so technology can directly lead to accidents. Even when distracted driving is prohibited, people still do it.
Impaired driving
Additionally, impaired driving continues to be a problem. Impairment can come from many things, from alcohol to prescription drugs. Cars can certainly become safer than they are now thanks to technological development, but that is never going to entirely protect against impaired drivers.
If you’ve lost a loved one or suffered serious injuries in an accident caused by another driver, make sure you know what legal options you have.