Once upon a time, it was a rare thing to see a bad traffic accident. Today, however, it’s almost normal to see one every few days. If you think this is an increase over years past, you’re not alone in noticing. We asked legal experts and those who spend a lot of time on the road to share some of their thoughts behind this rise in collisions. Continue reading to find out what they had to say:
Ben Michael
Ben Michael, Director of Auto, Michael & Associates.
Less Driving Practice, Economic Distress
1. Less driving practice means more car accidents. The rise of remote work, the reduced rate at which teens are getting their driver’s licenses, and the lax licensing standards in many states (road tests were waived for much of the pandemic), all mean that the drivers on the road today are fewer experienced and less qualified.
2. Lax law enforcement. The combination of COVID and anti-police unrest led many police departments to reduce their enforcement activities, especially in certain high-crime areas. These same areas saw an increase in car-related crime including street racing, theft, vandalism, and crashes.
3. Economic distress. People who are having trouble making ends meet are more likely to drive while they are distressed, drunk, or otherwise impaired, and will often have more time to get into trouble when they’re not working.
Distracted Driving, Increased Traffic
I think the increase in car accidents has a lot of variables included – more people are on the roads than ever before, and there are more distractions available to us than at any previous time in history. People can talk on their phones, work from their car, check their social media feed, or do hundreds of other tasks while also driving their vehicle. Roads have not yet adjusted to the influx of traffic, as we have shifted to a car-reliant society.
Kyle MacDonald
Kyle MacDonald, Director of Operations, Force by Mojio.
Daniel Solinsky
Daniel Solinsky, Trial Attorney at Edelman, Krasin & Jaye, PPLC.
Easy Access to Built-In Vehicle Media
The recent increase is due to driver inattentiveness: Smartphones and instant access to information are now the driver’s primary focus, the road is secondary. Additionally, it appears that the car makers’ desire to curb this problem – by building smart media into the car itself – has only added to the problem.
Congestion, Distracted Drivers, and Irresponsible Driving
There are several reasons why car accidents have been on the rise in recent years. One of the most significant contributing factors is the increasing number of vehicles on the road. With more cars comes more congestion, and with more congestion comes more opportunities for accidents to occur.
Another factor is the increasing popularity of distracted driving, as people are increasingly using their phones and other devices while behind the wheel. This distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, as it takes drivers’ attention away from the road and increases the likelihood of mistakes being made.
Finally, another factor that has likely contributed to the increase in car accidents is the rise in speeding and aggressive driving. With busy schedules and longer commute times, many drivers are going above the speed limit and driving more aggressively in order to get to their destination as quickly as possible. This can lead to accidents, as well.
Matt Teifke
Matt Teifke, Founder & CEO of Austin Real Estate Brokerage.
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