When people talk about motor vehicle crashes, most of them are injured in a car crash. However, very few people tell you how many people were killed in car crashes.
The number is very high, at over 230,506 people, in 1907. This number does not include those who were killed in motorcycle accidents, as those only occurred in a few places around the country.
Motorcycle accidents were common then, and are still today. About 5% of all traffic fatalities occur on motorcycles, and nearly all occur outside of daylight hours when traffic is lightest.
Mostly cars and trucks today, as they have become the preferred mode of transportation following airplanes and buses as dangerous but less flexible vehicles. This article will talk about some of the most common causes of motor vehicle crashes and injuries.
How can I stay safe?
While driving is our number one threat, not everyone who drives has learned how to be safe on the road.
In addition to the obvious dangers of driving, such as passing vehicles without giving them a chance to turn around or gap in the traffic, there are also risks associated with riding in a vehicle.
Most of these risk are absent in an unoccupied vehicle, but can be elevated when someone is in the car with you.
As always, never play around with your vehicle or driver. If you have to take care of anything inside or outside of the vehicle, do it properly and safely.
Also, stay alert.
Crashes are often preventable
There are several ways to prevent a vehicle crash, or a person in a vehicle crash, from resulting in a serious or fatal injury. These include:
using headlights and taillights to ensure you are visible to other vehicles and pedestrians,
using turn signals when turning,
shiftable steering, and
keeping your speed under the speed limit.
Speed is one of the most common causes of vehicle crashes. It is easy to get distracted while driving at high speeds, so make sure to use seatbelts for safety as well as comfort.
Transportation officials are working towards creating more safe roads and transportation systems. With new technology being developed constantly, your chances of keeping yourself and others safe is high.
Crash causes vary
While every driver knows the most common causes of vehicle traffic crashes are distracted and inattentive driving, very few know how many people were injured in these incidents.
In 1907, there were 230,506 vehicle traffic crashes, and an estimated 1,000 people were injured in these accidents. This makes motor vehicle traffic one of the more dangerous modes of transportation.
It is for this reason that radar detection systems have become standard equipment on cars today. If a driver does not have this system, their car will be detected as a solid color upon passing another vehicle and a police officer will stop the driver to check for license and insurance card tags.
This will instantly detect any medical conditions or impairments that may cause the person to drive incapable or mentally unstable. This will prevent many from comprehending their vehicle is disabled and they should stay at home until help arrives.
Over 230,506 people were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 1907
In 1907, there were 230,506 motor vehicle traffic crashes, and 41 people were killed. This was the year after the construction of Interstate Highway 10 and 50, which reduced the number of accidents substantially.
However, this still represents over a half million injuries and lost productivity!
The total number of crashes in 1907 was 672,853, with 19,676 being fatal. Because more than half of all crashes resulted in a injury, this is an under-estimate of the number of injuries that occurred.
Traffic congestion is a major cause of motor vehicle crashes
Congestion Pricing is a cost-effective way to reduce the amount of traffic congestion is causing. By placing a fee or tax on vehicles traveling along specific roads, the government can reduce the amount of cars and trucks passing through a given area.
This can help prevent some accidents by limiting the number of times someone has to go across multiple roads to get to and from their destination. It could also lower insurance rates for drivers as they are more likely to use alternate routes when there is a fee involved.
However, not every country has figured out how to implement Congestion Pricing.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous
While driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal, you should still be careful. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be very dangerous.
Many people drive when they are under the influence of these substances. Many people do not know what they are doing when they drive when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
You have to be more patient while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You may also make poor decisions that could cost you life and/or property.
You may also exceed your speed limit, go onto a less safe road/route, take shortcuts that require you to change down or even noose directions, and more.
Always wear your seat belt
While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that you always wear your seat belt. Even when not in danger of being thrown from your vehicle, it can prevent you from being hit by another vehicle or person.
Vehicle crashes are one of the most common forms of injury, both in the United States and abroad. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 290 people die as a result of car crashes every year, making them one of the top injuries caused by vehicles.
Despite car accidents causing nearly three million injuries annually, very few doctors and hospitals offer proper instruction on how to drive safely. This may be due to a lack of awareness regarding how dangerous driving can be for those unfamiliar with the sport.
Anyone can tell if you are driving too fast or too slow based on whether or not they feel the tires are squealing or moving respectively.
Learn how to take a turn safely
Many people learn to take a turn without turning or crossing over when the cars are going straight into a car. However, this is not the best way to do it.
When you are trying to get a good position to safely make your move, going from harmless contact to full-on knock out is a fast process. By having less of a chance of successfully making your move, you also have a greater chance of being involved in an accident.
To make this transition more smoothly and fully protected, learn how to properly take a turn. First, carefully get up on your feet and then slowly step forward with your right foot and down with your left.
