Personal Injury Blog

Study Examines Causes of Car Accidents

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that speeding is not the number one cause of car accidents. 

It has been nearly 30 years since the last on-scene crash causation study was conducted, which is why the U.S. Congress authorized the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation to perform the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS).  During the study, researchers were able to go to the scene of the crash, right after the accident happened.  They were therefore able to talk to drivers, passengers and witnesses, as well as review the events that led up to the crash.

The goal of the study was to understand the events that led up to car accidents.  Crashes from 2005 to 2007 were examined to determine factors that contribute to car crashes in the United States.  Researchers looked at the events and reasons associated with the accidents.  For example, researchers assigned critical reasons relating to the driver, which contributed to accidents.  The top critical reason associated with drivers in auto accidents had do to with recognition errors, meaning the driver wasn’t paying attention to the road, was distracted or was not adequately surveying the road. 

The second major reason for accidents that involved driver behavior was decision errors.  Decision errors included such behaviors as driving aggressively and speeding.  Drivers were also found to make performance errors, including overcompensation and improper directional control, which contributed to the accidents.

According to the study, most of the accidents examined occurred at intersections, when a vehicle was crossing or turning.  Another 22 percent of the accidents happened when the vehicles ran off the road.

The information collected in the survey is intended to help prevent crashes from occurring in the first place.  If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Law Offices of Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, LLP at (863) 683-1111.

The article, What Causes Car Crashes, has more information on this topic.