CAR ACCIDENTS IN US: Car Accident Injuries - Causes and Preventive Measures

Car accidents that cause injuries have happened virtually since
automobiles were invented. The first recorded accidental injury
occurred in 1869. An Irish woman named Mary Ward was thrown out of the
steam-powered carriage she was riding in when it hit an especially
deep rut in the road. She was immediately crushed by one of the
wheels, her injuries causing an instantaneous death. Her cousin had
actually been the inventor of this new type of vehicle, in a cruel
example of irony.

Over the last 25 years or so, car accident [1] injuries resulting in
deaths have declined an impressive 50% worldwide. This is due
primarily to increased emphasis by both governments and car
manufacturers on safety, including the standard use of air bags to
reduce the number of severe injuries and deaths caused by front and
side car-to-car collisions.

Sadly, the United States is one of the few nations where injuries and
fatalities caused by cars have increased over this same period.
Experts suggest that this has several causes, including an increased
number of motorists overall, a steady increase in the number of large
trucks and SUVs sold, and a sharp rise in the numbers of people [2]
using cell phones and other technological gadgets while driving their
cars.

Another common [3] cause of car accident [4] injuries is
'rubbernecking.' This is the term for slowing down (sometimes
suddenly) to look at an unusual situation happening on the road (or
nearby). Often, people [5] do this to check out car accidents, which
can cause other motorists farther back who are not paying close
attention to fail to slow down or stop in time. Rubbernecking is the
#1 cause of all rear-end car accidents and, in particular, whiplash
injuries, in the United States.

Car accident [6] prevention designed to reduce injury and fatality
numbers focuses on technology and changing human behavior while behind
the wheel. Modern cars and trucks are equipped with air bags, and
proximity and drift monitors are becoming more common [7] as well.
Both emit loud tones to alert the car's driver that the vehicle is
entering a dangerous area. In Europe, this has been shown to reduce
accidental injuries from both car-to-car collisions and single-car
accidents.

Changing driver behaviors to reduce car accidents is a tougher nut to
crack - especially in the United States, where car ownership is
embedded in the culture. People [8] spend so much time in their cars
today that it results in a sense of invulnerability. The subsequent
lack of defensive driving is one of the reasons why accidental
injuries from car collisions in America are bucking the worldwide
downward trend.

Perhaps surprisingly, U.S. states with less restrictive speed limit
laws actually have a slightly lower incidence of car accidents that
cause injuries or deaths. This can partially be explained by a lower
number of cars on the road per capita vs. some of the states with
lower speed limits. However, even when adjusted for this effect, the
statistics still show a slight edge to states with higher limits.
Advocates of stricter enforcement of posted speed limits may be
pursuing the wrong strategy, if the goal is the prevention of car
accident [9] injuries.

A better approach to accident [10] prevention should probably focus on
two areas that lead to many serious auto accidents: driver
distractions and age. Cell phones are becoming the biggest
distraction, and more and more states are banning their use by the
driver while the vehicle is in motion. Even if you live where it is
permissible, it's an extremely bad idea! Recent studies have shown a
clear connection between phone use and car accidents.

Driver age has an interesting correlation with car accidents that
cause injuries and deaths. At both ends of the spectrum, ages 16-20
and 70+, a much higher percentage of accidents occur than with other
age ranges. Accident [11] prevention based on the driver's age is not
easily implemented, but calls by the public and advocacy groups are on
the increase. Some suggestions include mandatory driver education
courses, annual driver examinations to reassess abilities, and even a
magnetic sticker or decal on all cars driven by a person falling into
either age demographic. The latter entails the idea that alerting
other drivers will increase their defensive driving attention,
reducing the frequency of accidents.

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This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software [12] from
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CAR ACCIDENTS IN US

Thứ Sáu, 29 tháng 4, 2011

Car Accident Injuries - Causes and Preventive Measures

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