Some incidents are undesirable, but the inevitable eventually happens. Well, we are talking about accidents while you sit at the steering wheel. No driver would voluntarily want to get entangled in this kind of a mess. Even though you remain adequately insured, you’d naturally try to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. We’ll list down the common causes of accidents in Canada in this article.
However, as the primary line of defense against accidents, you must seek the right insurance policy. Reputed car insurance brokers like Surex can help you narrow down your options.
6 common causes of car accidents that drivers should be aware of
Now, let’s have a look at the common causes leading to accidents:
Reckless driving and speeding
Overspeeding and reckless driving are two of the primary causes of car accidents. In 2020, speeding accounted for 25.3% of all car accidents in Canada. This implies that overspeeding leads to more than a quarter of accidents in the country.
Apart from endangering their own lives, speeding drivers continue to be a potential threat to other drivers and pedestrians. While some drivers habitually indulge in speeding, others occasionally take speed under emergent conditions. Remember, a speeding ticket can tarnish your driving record and haunt you while you shell out higher insurance premiums.
Distracted driving
Do you have a bad habit of texting or using your cell phone while driving? Well, distracted driving accounts for more than 20% of car accidents in Canada.
Texting or getting distracted while driving puts the lives of passengers, including yourself, in danger. So, if you keep yourself obsessed with emails or answering a chat, your attention wouldn’t be on the road. This increases the chances of rear-end collision or swerving out of your driving lane.
Other forms of distracted driving include playing loud music inside the car, daydreaming or sleeping, and eating while driving.
Adverse weather and road conditions
Bad driving conditions happen to be one of the major causes of car accidents in Canada. With poor weather and road conditions around, it’s wise to be extra vigilant on the road. Particularly, when it’s raining, or you navigate snowy terrains, make sure to drive slowly. Also, use adequate gear like snow tires to cope with adverse weather conditions.
During heavy rains, it’s challenging to drive safely without skidding. Likewise, driving in fog leads to decreased visibility, increasing your chances of collision. Environmental factors contribute to around 20% of car accidents in Canada.
Fatigue
An alarming number of drivers in Canada land in accidents due to fatigue. Fatigue often amounts to a lack of concentration. Besides, when your brain gets tired, it takes more time to react. This implies that you won’t get much time to make prompt decisions and avert accidents.
With busy lifestyles, drivers often don’t get time for their naps at home. Besides, many drivers feel fatigued due to medications. This drowsiness robs them of their mental agility while driving. Particularly, when you take long road trips, the chances of accidents arising from fatigue are high.
Following too close
Usually, drivers need two to three seconds to realize the necessity of emergency braking. This is the reaction or perception time that you need to afford. Considering this three-second time requirement, it’s logical not to follow the vehicle in front too closely. In case you have been driving in the rain, your vehicle might even skid if you apply emergency brakes too hard.
Therefore, it makes sense to leave adequate space in front of your car. With this buffer space available, you will get enough time to react and apply the brake. Otherwise, it can lead to a rear-end collision.
Driving under influence
Besides being a major cause of accidents, driving under the influence can adversely affect your driving record. Insurers consider you to be an irresponsible driver if you are convicted of DUI. As a result, the red mark will tarnish your driving record, leading to increased premiums. Leading insurers in Canada might even refuse to cover your car. It’s imperative to have a sound mental state while you take on the road.
Consuming alcohol reduces the ability of your brain to react. Besides, dizziness caused by the consumption of alcohol leads to blurred vision. Alcohol also induces drivers to take risks, leading to fatal accidents. The risk of facing an accident doubles with the increment in alcohol concentration in blood by 0.05%.
How to avoid car accidents
Now that you know the leading causes of car accidents, it’s time to strategize your line of defense. Here are certain guidelines that will help you avoid car accidents in Canada.
- Keep your eyes open for caution signs by the road. These signs might make you vigilant of dangers that might be waiting along the road. For instance, you might find signboards on the roads close to accident-prone zones. So, try to drive slowly in case you find any of these signs.
- Equip your car with fog lights, winter tires, and other accessories to confront environmental challenges.
- Avoid driving under the influence in Canada, as it amounts to a serious offense. Also, try not to drive if you are feeling sleepy or drowsy.
- Adhere to the legitimate speed limit when you take on the roads. When you refrain from overspeeding and rash driving, you can reduce the chances of accidents.
- Don’t talk over the phone or reply to texts while driving. Also, make sure not to get distracted by any other means.
- While driving, keep an eye on blind spots and don’t follow other vehicles closely. Respect the traffic rules, and you will remain safer when you drive.
Endnote
Drivers in Canada should be aware of the major causes of car accidents. This way, they can adopt a protective stance and stay secure on the road. However, accidents do happen even when you are fully vigilant from your end. So, it makes sense to have adequate insurance for your vehicle.
Along with the mandatory liability insurance coverage, your car needs comprehensive collision coverage as well. Consulting a reputed insurance broker can help you compare affordable quotes from top insurers. With professional support, finding an affordable insurance policy for your car would be easy.
