Car Crash and Driver Impairment

A car crash can be caused by a number of factors. One cause can be when one vehicle collides with another vehicle. A vehicle can also collide with an animal, road debris, pedestrian, architectural, and geographical obstacles. Traffic collisions can result in death, injury, and property damage. A number of conditions can contribute to the risk of a car crash. Vehicle design and speed of operation are both factors that can contribute to an automobile crash. Road design and driver impairment are also important factors in some accidents.

Driver impairment caused by alcohol and drugs significantly affects the likelihood of a car crash. A study done in Canada indicated that 33% of vehicular deaths were caused by intoxication of the driver. Prescription drugs also impair a driver's reflexes; Over the counter medications also have ingredients that can make a driver sleepy and unable to properly operate a vehicle.

Another major cause is poor vision or some other physical impairment. Driving tests include vision tests, and those drivers that need vision correction must wear either glasses or contacts while operating a vehicle. Drivers that are elderly can also be a driving hazard, and these individuals can be the cause of a car crash.

Sleep deprivation and fatigue can increase the occurrence of accidents in a motor vehicle. When multiple conditions are combined, the result can be deadly. A driver that drinks alcohol and smokes marijuana is more severely impaired than a driver that has just used either drugs or alcohol. A person that takes the recommended dosages of several medicines together will be more severely impaired than a person that does not mix drugs together. Pedestrians and cyclists can also be impaired from drugs or alcohol. These individuals can risk harm and injury to themselves and others.

Inexperience is another factor that causes a car crash. Teens are more likely to have an accident; therefore, insurance companies tend to rate these insurance policies accordingly. Teens are more likely to take chances when driving. For example,trying to listen to loud music and talk to friends are major reasons for many accidents that occur each year. However,driver education courses in school can help reduce the likelihood of careless teen driving.

In conclusion, a car crash is an unpleasant occurrence that always has bad consequences. In cases of driver impairment, the consequences can be fatal. Driving requires focus and attention; therefore, a driver that knows that they are impaired should find another person to drive the vehicle. Many car crashes could have been prevented if the driver would have admitted to being unable to operate the vehicle at that particular time.