Most Common Causes of Accidents in Southern California
With so many cars on the roads, it’s no surprise accidents happen daily. From high speed collisions to accidents involving pedestrians or even inanimate objects, there’s always something to look out for when you’re out on the road. If you’ve ever thought that maybe some accidents are preventable, you’re not alone. Actually, we believe many accidents can be prevented by just following the rules of the road and driving with patience. But this is Los Angeles, and we understand that patience is hard to come by, but sometimes one mistake could be very costly. Keep reading to learn more about the most common causes of accidents on Southern California roads. Hopefully, we can persuade you to slow down and drive a little more safely.
10 Most Common Causes of Auto Accidents
Distracted Driving
When we talk about distracted driving, that could mean a couple of things. But basically, a driver diverts their attention from the road, causing them to miss something that leads to an accident. Distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents across the nation, not just California. Maybe you’re driving and you look down at your phone to respond to a text message or phone call or maybe you just hit the Del Taco drive through and you’re trying to eat your food on the way back from work. We’ve all done it. But all it takes is for you to get distracted and look away for a split second in order to cause an accident.
Speeding
Slow down. You don’t have to rush to where you’re going. If you’re going to be late, you’re going to be late. But the thing is people don’t slow down. And that’s why speeding is the second most common cause of accidents in the United States. When you drive over the speed limit, you’re increasing the chances of losing control of your vehicle if something happens. Many motorists speed daily, and don’t see the harm in speeding. But again, all it takes is one swerve at a high speed for you to lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. Remember, the faster you drive, the slower your reaction time is.
Rain
We’re just getting out of rainy season in California, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t mention the rain. When it rains in Los Angeles, people forget how to drive. Either that or they continue to drive like it isn’t raining. Either way, the rain causes accidents all the time. Decreased visibility leads to slower reaction times. When it rains, be assertive and aware of your surroundings so you aren’t the one causing an accident.
Night Driving
Every time you get in a vehicle, you’re carrying a responsibility to operate the vehicle safely. Whether it’s a car, truck, trailer or semi-truck, driving at night has decreased visibility no matter how you spin it. As the sun goes down, your awareness must go up exponentially so you don’t cause an accident.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Blinkers are made for a reason. If you don’t want to contribute to one of the most common causes of accidents, you should really exercise using your blinker at all times to signify your lane change. Unsafe lane changes cause accidents way too frequently. Using your blinker immediately makes other drivers aware of your intentions, and is a great way to prevent unnecessary accidents.
Tailgating
Reaction time is everything when you’re driving. If you give yourself proper room, you can react to a variety of different circumstances that may happen on the road from a flat tire to dodging something in the road unexpectedly. But if you tailgate the car in front of you, you’re cutting your reaction time down. Give the car in front of you some room. Accidents that come from tailgating can be prevented (most of the time), so don’t be the cause of an unnecessary accident.
Reckless Driving
Hopefully, you don’t participate in reckless driving. Because if you do, you could cause or be the cause of accidents, some of which you may not even know about. Many times reckless drivers cause accidents in their wake. Cars swerve to get out of the way or fearfully changing lanes and hit other cars in the process. Reckless driving endangers everyone around you. Please don’t do it!
Road Rage
In Los Angeles, there are a lot of vehicles on the road. Some drivers are nicer than others. Some drivers like to yell or angrily drive their cars in reaction to things that happen to them on the road. This is most commonly described as road rage, and it’s one of the most common causes of accidents across the board. Everyone has somewhere to go. Don’t be the person that prevents everyone else from getting there because you got in an accident being a jerk. Let it go. That guy that cut you off isn’t worth causing an accident over.
Improper Turn
You’d be surprised at the number of times Pepe’s Towing Servicegets called out to clean up after accidents that are caused by drivers making improper turns. For instance, a driver is making a left turn from the left hand turn lane and then decides they want to go straight. They don’t look over their shoulder before doing so, and collide with another vehicle in the middle of the intersection. If you’re in the turn lane, just make the turn. Don’t do something illegal and be the cause of an accident.
Impaired Driving
When we talk about impaired driving, that doesn’t just mean drunk driving. Impaired driving can be from alcohol, pain killers or a number of other substances, including marijuana. It’s one of the most common causes of accidents, but it’s also one of the most preventable. Don’t operate any type of vehicle if you aren’t of sound mind and sobriety. Vehicles are heavy. In many ways they’re like speeding bullets, and have the power to harm those around them if not properly driven. Don’t operate a vehicle while impaired. It could be the difference between life and death.
Quick and Reliable Towing Services in Greater Los Angeles
If you’re ever in an accident, you’re going to want to get someone out there quickly. Not only that, you’re going to want them to be able to get your car or vehicle where it needs to go. At Pepe’s Towing Service, we pride ourselves on our quick response rate, professionalism and knowledge. We’ve been cleaning up accidents for decades, and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Next time you’re in an accident, call us at 323-268-1609.