What Is the Likelihood of a Car Accident Per Mile Driven?

Accident Rates Before the Pandemic

Accident rates were showing improvements in the years leading up to the coronavirus pandemic. According to NHTSA, the rate of fatalities per hundred million miles traveled dropped in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The fatality rates per hundred thousand also dropped in categories of the overall population, registered vehicles, and licensed drivers.

Injury rates also decreased in several key categories. All this leads to a promising overall picture. Though the progress was slow, fatalities on the roads of the United States were dropping noticeably and consistently.

Accident Rates During the Pandemic

Many people expected that accident rates would drop during the pandemic. After all, people were staying at home far more often, sometimes even being required to do so by local lockdown orders. Yet, researchers found something completely different when they analyzed the accident data from 2020. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 2020 saw an increase of more than 7 percent in traffic fatalities over the previous year.

The number was, in fact, the most U.S. road fatalities since 2007. 2008 saw a sharp drop in road usage (and thus fatalities) as a result of the mortgage crisis. California also saw a similar increase in fatalities. Statista reports that there was an increase of just over 5 percent in fatalities between 2019 and 2020.

So why did this happen? One popular theory was the increase in risky driving behaviors. The frustration of the prolonged pandemic, financial uncertainty, and long periods of time spent at home caused many drivers to take more risks than they should have. Researchers found an increase in speeding, impaired driving, and other dangerous behaviors.

These driving habits have long been known to cause injuries and death. The good news is that they are preventable. If drivers accept personal responsibility for making safe choices behind the wheel, the roads of California will be safer for everyone.

Accident Rates After the Pandemic

So what will happen in the years to come? There has already been a huge resurgence of travel as vaccination rates increase. Forbes reports that 2021 summer travel is expected to surpass the rates in summer 2019. But more miles driven does lead to more accidents, so be careful, regardless of how you are getting to your destination.

The overall accident rate will be greatly affected by how safe drivers choose to be. If the risky pandemic behaviors continue, the accident rate will stay high. But if travel levels taper off and drivers learn not to bring their pandemic frustrations in the car, accident rates could go down significantly.

Speeding

Speeding causes several different problems on the road. First, it increases the stopping distance you will need in order to avoid a collision. Second, it reduces the amount of time you have to react to an obstacle on the road. These two problems can dramatically increase the risk that you will cause an accident if you are speeding.

However, speeding also increases the likelihood that a person will be seriously injured or killed in a car crash. Speed increases the amount of force that is generated in a collision. Force, in turn, causes injuries to the people who are involved in that collision. More force results in more serious injuries. There is a strong correlation between fatal accidents and speeding.

Impaired Driving

Alcohol has long been known to impair a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. But in recent years, many other types of impaired driving have also become serious public health threats. The opioid epidemic has led to an increase in drivers who are impaired by medications. Prescription medications can impair your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, even if you take them as directed.

Drivers have a legal obligation not to operate their vehicles when they are unable to do so safely. Whether you are impaired by alcohol, recreational drugs, prescription medications, or a combination of substances, you can be charged with reckless driving. You are also likely to be financially responsible for all the damage you cause in an accident.

Tired Driving

Alcohol and drugs are not the only ways to impair your ability to drive safely. Even something as simple as being tired can slow your reaction time, and in turn, make it more likely that you will cause an accident. Be sure to take plenty of breaks when you are on a long road trip. If necessary, pull off to the side of the road, and find a safe place to rest for a while before continuing on your trip.

Be cautious whenever you are likely to be tired (for example, on the drive home after a long day of work or if you did not sleep well the night before). Pay attention to your body. If it is not reacting safely to the traffic around you, it is time to get off the road.

Aggressive Driving

June 23 California is known for its notoriously bad traffic. Large urban areas, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, are infamous for having some of the worst commutes in America. It is understandable that drivers will become frustrated and angry. But drivers are still responsible for driving safely in these conditions.

You should not give in to the temptation to tailgate, or cut someone off, or signal your annoyance with your horn or headlights (or a few choice hand signals). All these behaviors increase the risk that you will cause an accident. There is even the risk of road violence. The Zebra reports that over two hundred murders occurred across the U.S. in seven years as a result of road violence.

Thousands more were injured in road rage accidents (including many who did not survive their injuries). The Zebra also reports that about two out of every three traffic accidents in the United States are caused by aggressive driving. You are responsible for your actions behind the wheel. By paying attention to your body and your commute, you can avoid frustrating situations on the road.

For example, is there construction on your normal route? You might be able to find a different way to work that does not get you stuck in long construction delays. Do you always get stuck in rush hour traffic? It might be possible to adjust your schedule so you can drive during off-peak hours. It is your responsibility to drive safely, regardless of the traffic conditions around you.