Leading Causes of Alabama Motor Vehicle Wrecks

Simply stating the obvious that failing to stay in your lane is the leading cause of Alabama motor vehicle wrecks is inadequate to say the least. There are more specific reasons motor vehicle accidents occur and they are distracted driving, drunk driving, and speeding and they happen so often and claim so many lives that they need to be addressed as frequently as we can.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is when something withing the car causes the driver to take his or her eyes off the road, even for a glance of a second. In the past pets and small children were often cited for distracting a driver’s attention but more recently, cell phone usage, notifications, and text messaging have become the leading cause of distracted driving. The Alabama Department of Transportation has stated that a texting driver is 23-times more likely to be involved in a fatal automobile wreck than a non-distracted driver. When will automobile manufacturers and technology companies come together to produce an electronic device that will automatically disable one’s cell phone while a car is in motion?

Drunk driving and drugged driving are another leading cause of Alabama motor vehicle accidents. Mothers Against Drunk Driving report on their web site http://www.madd.org/ that approximately one-third of all traffic fatalities in Alabama are due each year to drinking and driving. To combat this problem, in 2014, Alabama expanded it’s a requirement for the use of ignition interlocks to all, even the first time, convicted drunk drivers. Not letting a convicted drunk driver repeat this behavior will go along way to reducing the problem.

In addition to distracted and drunk driving, speeding is a leading cause of automobile wrecks and fatalities in our state. It’s probably because the consequences are very low and residents are willing to take the risk. Whereas, there are loads of consequences of speeding in Richmond VA, which keeps the speeding % low and below the state average. In 2012, 37% of Alabama traffic fatalities were attributed to speeding, more than any other cause. And speeding is not limited to merely going faster than the speed limit. The speed limits are the maximum speed one can legally travel in optimal weather conditions and during daylight hours. Wet, slippery, oil-slicked roads and blinding oncoming headlights at night make it advisable to reduce your speed by at least 10 miles per hour when these conditions are present. What would it take to post a “while raining” and an “at night” speed limit decal on our state and county speed limit signs to remind drivers of these facts?

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If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident by the negligence of another who has been distracted, drinking, or speeding, or for any other reason, please give us a call at Ferguson & Ferguson Attorneys at Law. We are experienced and knowledgeable motor vehicle accident attorneys and we will provide you with zealous legal representation. Call us today.