Experts say that the main causes of car accidents are driver distractions. Dangerous distractions that can lead to an accident include cell phones and other devices drivers use while driving. Mobile phones, laptops, electric razors, etc. causes drivers to take their eyes off the road for seconds, with the potential to cause a serious, if not fatal, accident. In response to this, some US states have banned the use of handheld cell phones while driving. The alternative is to use a hands-free headset that is light and comfortable, and allows the driver to carry on a conversation without distraction.
Another dangerous distraction is when a driver who has been drinking then attempts to drive. The effects of alcohol can and do wreak havoc over time. Anyone with a blood alcohol level of .01 is considered unfit to drive. The effects of drunk driving include drowsiness, loss of concentration, and the inability to judge distances and reaction times.
Neck bumping and tailgating are other potentially dangerous habits that many engage in while driving. Rubberneck occurs when drivers slow down to see another accident on the road or anything that seems unusual on the road. When a driver slows down a car too quickly, the driver of the car behind often does not have enough time to slow down or stop and crashes into the rear of the vehicle ahead. Rear-end collisions can cause serious injuries. The same applies to following too closely in that a driver following a car too closely may not have enough distance to stop suddenly, and the possibility of a serious accident is imminent.
A driver’s behavior causes many accidents; still others are caused by mechanical failure or road conditions. There are technical solutions that are available to help with these problems and have contributed to a decrease in death rates caused by car accidents. They include proximity monitors that let the driver know how close they are to the vehicle ahead; sobriety detectors, which measure the amount of alcohol a driver has consumed; and drift monitors, which alert the driver when their car drifts too far to one side of the road or the other.