Wherever your travels take you, it helps to stay aware of the risks you face on the road.
NTSA estimates that 3,000 Kenyans die from road accidents every year – costing the country anywhere between 3-5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 83 percent of the fatalities were men, with individuals aged between 30-34 years being most at risk, thus robbing the country of a very productive age bracket. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the figures much higher. Sadly, and clearly as the statistics from NTSA are showing, these numbers have been increasing every year.
Your best course of action? Try to avoid getting into a crash in the first place. Which begs the question, “What is the leading cause of vehicle accidents?“
What Is the Leading Cause of Vehicle Accidents?
It can be difficult to pinpoint the leading cause of car accidents, simply because there are often many factors involved. However, research into crash data has uncovered multiple behaviors and/or conditions that can increase your likelihood of a crash.
If you want to stay safe on the road, you can start by avoiding some of the most common causes of car crashes.
Speeding
Going over the posted speed limit makes it easier to lose control of your vehicle, and it gives you and others around you less time to react. Speeding also increases the force at which your vehicle will collide with another object, making injuries more severe.
Despite your suspicions, speed limits are not put in place just to annoy you or make you late for work. Traffic engineers follow the “85th percentile rule,” which states that 85% of drivers travel at reasonably safe speeds.
Aggressive Driving
Even if you haven’t experienced “road rage” yourself, you likely witnessed someone who did.
Tailgating, cutting people off, changing lanes quickly…these are all examples of aggressive driving that can put you (and others) at risk of an accident.
Failing To Obey Traffic Signals
There are a lot of vehicles on Kenyan roads, all of which are traveling in different directions to different locations. To make collisions between them less likely, stop signs and traffic lights help direct traffic.
Running red lights or coasting through a stop sign are just a few examples of failure to obey traffic rules.
Distracted Driving
From music to billboards to cell phones, it can be difficult to focus on driving when you’re on the road. Many accidents occur every year due to distracted driving.
Texting while driving is the biggest culprit, but far from the only one. Eating, talking, changing the radio station, and moving items in your car can all take your focus away from the road.
Driving Under the Influence
Many of the accidents occur over the weekends and holidays with the hours 5:00PM-8:00AM being considered as peak accident hours with drunk driving and carelessness being cited as some of the major causes of car accidents.
In addition to a slowed reaction time, driving under the influence—of any illicit substance!—impairs your judgment, making it more difficult to recognize hazards on the road.
Drowsy Driving
Driving while fatigued can feel very similar to driving while drunk.
If you start feeling sleepy, your best bet is to pull over for a quick nap. While coffee, rolling down the window, or turning up the radio may feel like easy fixes, they will only make the problem worse and may make you more vulnerable to “microsleep.”
Driving Safety Tips
Staying safe on the road doesn’t happen by accident. It takes thought and intention to keep you, your passengers, and fellow drivers protected. Here are some safe driving tips you should incorporate into your daily routine.
Before you get behind the wheel, be mindful of road conditions. The weather, nighttime driving, and even heavy traffic all require specific driving techniques. For example, when the brake pads on your car are wet, there is less friction, making it more difficult to stop suddenly.
Cars are filled with safety features that are designed to protect you—but only if you are using good driving posture. Sit a proper distance away from the steering wheel, adjust your mirrors for optimal visibility, and stay focused on the road!
Treating Car Accident Injuries
Unfortunately, car accidents aren’t 100% avoidable and injuries do occur. In situations like this, prompt medical care is your best course of action.
The good news? Your local chiropractor and physiotherapist can help!
Many auto accident injuries can be successfully treated with chiropractic and physiotherapy care. Because chiropractors and physiotherapists address the root cause of your symptoms, healing is often faster, quicker, and more affordable (without the side effects of drugs and surgery).
Conclusion
No one gets behind the wheel thinking that they might get into a crash, but this is exactly why accidents happen.
The best way to avoid a collision is by being aware of the many leading causes of car accidents and taking steps to avoid them. By staying alert, focused, and calm, you can drastically reduce your chances of accident and injury.
However, if you do become injured, the team at Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Health Centre is here to help.
With two licensed chiropractors and a team of physiotherapists, we have the skill, equipment, and resources to treat a vast range of car accident injuries—from whiplash to herniated discs.
Schedule an appointment today to see how we can help.
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