The three main causes of road accidents
Reading and replying to a text message takes an average of 52 seconds. At 60km/h, this is equivalent to driving ‘blind’ for one kilometre
Far too many people die on South African roads, especially during the festive season.
Cellphones (distraction), alcohol and lawlessness are the main causes of road accidents.
Understanding these causes could help you learn how to avoid accidents and safely reach your destination.
Cellphones
Texting and talking on cellphones lead to a quarter of all car crashes in South Africa.
Studies have shown that using a cellphone while driving can reduce your concentration by up to 37%.
Reading and replying to a text message takes an average of 52 seconds.
At 60km/h, this is equivalent to driving ‘blind’ for one kilometre, and makes the
driver four times more likely to have an accident.
Alcohol
According to Arrive Alive, half of the people who die on our roads have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres.
Alcohol slows down reflexes and reaction times. It reduces one’s ability to concentrate.
Alcohol slows eye muscle function, reducing one’s ability to see. It causes poor hand-eye coordination and it hinders the ability to make rational decisions.
Reckless driving
Accidents happen when drivers completely disregard the rules of the road.
This includes swerving, weaving in and out of traffic, overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic, tailgating, overtaking on blind corners, skipping red lights, braking suddenly, making U-turns and speeding.
The statistics speak for themselves.
While you might think that your driving abilities are top notch, most vehicle accidents are caused by human error.
It only takes a split second for an accident to take place, causing major damage to the vehicles involved, possible serious injury and even death.
If all motorists started adhering to the rules, put down their phones and refrained from drunken driving, it could lead to safer roads – and a much happier festive season for all our loved ones.
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