Was it Really an Accident?

Accident or Crash?   Cars collide every day. Vehicles are damaged, sometimes people are hurt, and tragically, lives are lost. But are they crashes or accidents? A growing movement seeks to reframe car accidents as crashes, and with good reason. According to the NHTSA, 94% of car crashes are caused by driver error. Those aren’t accidents. Calling them accidents takes the blame away from drivers, instead of encouraging them to take responsibility and change the way they drive. It's the Law Advocates around the world are seeking to change the mentality that crashes just happen. Drivers need to learn that they are at fault, that safe roads start with them. In some places, it’s becoming the law to call crashes what they are. In Nevada, the word accident was changed to crash in dozens of state laws, while NYC policies state that we must “no longer regard traffic crashes as mere accidents.” More than 28 state DOTs have followed suit. Safer Roads What about just creating safer roads? Install some speed humps, put speed display signs in, won’t that stop crashes from happening? The truth is that cities do have to do their part to create safer streets. Engineering roads that are safer for all users is an important aspect of keeping drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians safe. But ultimately, the key component of safer streets is the driver behind the wheel. Even a slight distraction away from the road puts everyone in danger. Distractions With an endless array of apps, music streaming, and messages beckoning today’s drivers, it should be no surprise that fatality rates are on the rise. Every distraction, digital or otherwise, affects driver’s perception response time (PRT). Anytime a driver encounters something unexpected, she must detect the object, decide whether it’s a hazard, choose how to respond, and then act. Driving is a complex activity that requires complete attention. Almost all crashes can be avoided. But drivers need to try.

Be Careful, It's Raining! When Are You Most at Risk on the Roads?

We've all heard that refrain and variations of it dozens of times.

"Be careful driving, it's slippery out when it rains."

"The snow's coming down hard, stay alert out there."

"It's dark out, pay attention to the roads."

Of course, those statements are all true. When it's raining, snowing, sleeting, or dark out, you should certainly stay alert and drive slowly and carefully.

But what about when it's the middle of the day, it's dry out, and the sun is shining? No need to be cautious then, right?

Think again.

NHTSA statistics show that surprisingly, most accidents happen during the daylight hours in normal weather conditions. In 2010 (the most recent year with data available), there were nearly 15,000 road fatalities in daytime under normal weather conditions. In contrast, there were around 2,000 in the rain both during the day and night and around 750 in the snow including day and night hours.

Why is driving in perfectly bright weather conditions on roads that aren't slippery or wet dangerous?

Perhaps because people tend to let their guard down and assume they don't need to be particularly alert when there are no weather or lighting issues affecting the roads.

It's during these hours that traffic calming is the most important. Speed trailers, radar signs, or flashing beacons are all effective in reminding drivers to focus on the roads, even when there is no apparent danger. Speed humps, tables, and cushions compel drivers to slow down and save lives in the process.

When everything seems fine and drivers forget to focus on the roads, traffic calming makes sure they drive safely. Radar signs or speed humps on your roads can help avoid accidents before they happen.