These are the causes of serious road accidents

Poor mental health, fatigue, human error and distraction are responsible for almost 90% (nine out of ten) of serious car accidents, which are often fatal, according to a new US scientific study.

Sadness and anger almost increase the risk tenfold, fatigue triples it and daydreaming due to distraction doubles it. The greatest increase in risk - over 35 times - is when one drives drunk or under the influence of drugs.

The use of a mobile phone by the driver (either to talk, or to send or read a message), the driver crouching to grab an object next to him (eg his mobile) and the use of the radio, The air conditioning or touch screen of his car are common causes of distraction, which can be fatal.

When you type a number on your mobile phone while driving, the risk of an accident increases by 12 times, while if you just bend down to grab your device, by six times. The risk is also six times higher if the driver sends text messages from his mobile phone or "surfs" the internet. According to scientists, these latest habits have significantly increased traffic in recent years, as people - even when driving - want to be constantly "connected" via their mobile phone.

Researchers at the University of Virginia Tech, led by Director of the Transportation Institute Tom Dingus, published in the journal National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), used cameras mounted on the back of the car to monitor habits of drivers and then compared with traffic statistics.

Scientists have calculated that, on more than half the distance in his car, a driver is engaged in something other than driving, which doubles the risk of an accident.

An important risk factor is the agitated emotional state of the driver, if e.g. angry, sad, cries, is overstimulated etc. Such a mental state increases the risk of a car accident by 9,8 times. Moreover, speeding exceeds the respective limit by 13 times the risk.

Human errors are often associated with braking in the wrong place and at the wrong time, as well as a lack of familiarity with the driver's car, as well as ignorance of road conditions.

On the other hand, mistakes such as "getting stuck" behind another car, chewing something, talking to your child or other passenger in the back seat, 'dancing' to the rhythm of the music he listens to or (for female drivers ) to put on make-up, in practice they increase the risk of a car accident very little.

According to the researchers, the younger generation of drivers, especially the younger ones, are more prone to other activities, which make them no longer look at the road. Dingus pointed out that if this trend continues, without taking measures (which will limit the distraction from mobile phones, etc.), then the next and the next generation of drivers will be even more at risk of falling victim to a car accident. Above all, however, drivers themselves must be aware of the danger and self-discipline, realizing that driving requires concentration.

Source: RES-EAP