Car Insurance

Many people die in road accidents in America every year. Most of the road accidents comprise of passenger car accidents. Drivers are mostly at fault in majority of these car accidents, while few environmental, and road conditions are the other reasons.

It is essential for car owners and drivers to be extremely careful while driving, in order to prevent the many car accidents occurring every year. There are a lot of standard driving rules that need to be followed to reduce the probability of an accident. If each and every driver followed these road rules, the number of accidents would be considerably reduced.

The cars need to be serviced and checked for any problems every month. Maintaining a proper schedule for car servicing is the most basic of all preventive measures. Furthermore drivers need to check the front and rear mirrors of the car, as proper mirrors give a clear view of the front and back of the vehicle, thereby avoiding many fatal accidents.

It’s a well-known fact that drinking and driving is deadly. Whenever drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, their judgment decreases and they can no longer drive properly. Drinking and driving is a punishable offence in the US. For that matter operation of any machinery under the influence of liquor is strictly prohibited.

Drivers need to maintain proper a distance between two cars to avoid rear end collisions. Drivers should also not attempt to reach for items in the car while driving. There is a chance the driver could lose control of the vehicle and cause a serious accident. Road rage is not good, and drivers need to maintain their cool while driving. Thus, a lot of car accidents can be prevented if the drivers follow the rules of the road.

Experts have successfully identified some of the major causes of car accidents, and a driver distraction such as using a cell phone, is one of them. However, apart from driver distractions, another major factor that experts have identified as a cause of car accidents is the age of the driver. Studies have shown that there is a higher incidence of car accidents among drivers in certain age groups. These groups include young people between the ages of 16 and 20 who are inexperienced drivers and the elderly who are 70 years or older. The elderly have certain physiological manifestations that develop with old age that can hinder their driving ability.

One of the most common problems the elderly face is poor vision. Poor vision is not only a complication of old age, but it is also a complication of many diseases including diabetes, which causes vision to blur. The reflexes of an elderly person are also slower. This in turn slows down the reaction time of an elderly driver making it difficult to make split-second decisions that could prevent an accident. Older people tire easily, making driving longer distances a challenge. This could lead to an elderly person falling asleep at the wheel, causing a serious, if not deadly, accident. Many elderly Americans are facing the day when their driver’s license will be taken away. Unfortunately, when an elderly person has severe limitations behind the wheel, there is no other choice. Taking away a driver’s license to someone who is used to independence is a tough step, but it does help save the lives of many elderly drivers and ensures the safety of others on the road.

In the year 2000, there were about 16,653 people in the United States who were killed in car accident involving alcohol. This figure comprises about 40 percent of all people killed in traffic accidents during that year. This is mainly because drivers who were driving while intoxicated endangered not only their own lives but the lives of other people as well. Given this, a number of states have taken necessary steps to prevent the occurrence of injury and death caused by alcohol. One of these steps is to lower the limit of the allowable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) among drivers.

Given the alarming figures of car accidents involving alcohol, a number of states have lowered the allowable BAC among drivers from a BAC of 100 mg/dl or 0.1 percent to 80 mg/dl or 0.08 percent. This is because based on a number of studies; almost all drivers are impaired at a level of 80mg/dL. At this level, drivers experience some level of difficulty in critical driving skills such as steering, braking and changing lanes. Furthermore, the studies show that some impairment occurs at 50 mg/dl, when some people already show signs of being drunk.

The Federal Government has also mandated that all fifty states should enact laws that establish 80 mg/dl as the allowable BAC among private vehicles. As a means to encourage states to do so, the Federal Government is withholding 2 percent of federal highway construction funds of the states that refuse to do so. In addition, the Federal Government has set a very low BAC among drivers of commercial vehicles, — 40 mg/dl, which studies have shown is enough to cause impairment.

In response to the alarming figures related to car accidents that involve alcohol, both state and the Federal Government have taken the necessary steps to prevent such accidents from happening. One of these steps is to lower the limit of the allowable blood alcohol concentration that can prevent car accidents.

According to State Farm Insurance, Pennsylvania comes in first as the state that has the most automobile and dear crashes. A survey done by the insurance company showed that 1.5 million automobiles are involved in collisions with deer each year and have caused 150 deaths and $1.1 billion in damages. Deer migrate and mate between October and December and that is when most accidents occur. The time that they most often happen seems to be first thing in the morning and dusk. Since a deer can weight over 200 pounds, a run in with one can cause death to a driver, passengers, the deer and thousands of dollars in damage to your car.

Based on rankings of the total number of deer accident claims filed with State Farm other states that rank high with deer car accidents are Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, Minnesota, Virginia, Indiana, Texas and Wisconsin.

If you are driving in an area that is known to have deer, use your high beams for greater visibility, and slow down if you see a deer standing on the side of the road. If you startle the deer, it may run right in front of you. Use your horn and flash your lights until the deer is out of harm’s way. Also, if you’ve seen one deer, there are probably more in the area, so drive very cautiously. If you can’t avoid a collision, try not to swerve. It increases the chances of losing control of your car. Attentive driving is the best way to avoid run-ins with deer.

A recent study done in Australia shows that chatting on your cell phone makes you four times more vulnerable to a serious car crash than someone who does not use a cell phone while driving. It also indicates that it doesn’t matter whether you are holding the cell phone or talking with a hands-free device. You’ve dialed the wrong number if you think that it’s safe to drive. The study also showed that it didn’t matter whether you were male or female or how old you were - the risks all appeared to be the same. The study showed that if you’re driving and using a cell phone, you’re at risk and so are any passengers in your automobile.

Driving takes total concentration and any kind of distraction can lead to serious consequences. The main problem with cell phones when you are holding them or talking on a speaker is your mind is concentrating on the call and not as much on the road. Talking and driving also slows down a driver’s reaction time, making a quick response to a hazard on the road less likely to avoid. For example, if a car suddenly slows down in front of you, and you are on a cell phone - you may be less likely to see what’s happening until it’s too late.

Senator Joe Simitian is trying to pass a law in California that prohibits drivers from talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have already passed this law, and the senator is quite confident that it will also pass in California.