Statewide Auto Accident Statistics Provide Perspective on Road Dangers
Attorney Lynn C. Harris knows that car accidents can cause serious hardships to victims and their loved ones. He has helped countless people throughout Utah receive just compensation after a serious motor vehicle collision.
We'd like to use this blog post to consider some auto accident statistics for the state of Utah. This can help you understand the risks of driving on the road and what you can do to help prevent serious and even fatal collisions.
2013 Utah Auto Accident Statistics
According to the Utah Department of Public Safety's Highway Safety Office, in 2013 there were a total of 55,637 motor vehicle collisions, resulting in 22,740 injuries and 220 fatalities.
To put these numbers in perspective, that means that in 2013, there was an auto accident every 9 minutes, an injury as a result of an auto accident every 23 minutes, and an auto accident fatality every 39.5 hours.
A Trend in Fatal Accident Numbers for 2013
Thankfully, 2013 proved to be a less lethal for drivers than previous years. Looking at the numbers, 2013 had the second-lowest fatality numbers since 1959. That said, the numbers did show that the deadliest months on the road were July and August.
Age Makes a Difference When it Comes to Driver Safety
There's another interesting trend in auto accident numbers in 2013. There's a direct correlation between the age of a driver and the likelihood that he or she will be involved in a collision. Drivers aged 15-19 were most likely to get involved in auto accidents, followed by drivers aged 20-24. This is likely the result of driver inexperience and young drivers taking unnecessary risks behind the wheel.
Elderly drivers were least likely to be involved in collisions since they tend to be more conservative behind the wheel.
The Leading Causes of Collisions in 2013
Here are the five leading causes of all motor vehicle collisions in 2013:
- 21% of all collisions were caused by following too close
- 18% of all collisions were caused by a failure to yield
- 17% of all collisions were caused by excessive speed
- 13% of all collisions were caused by frequent lane changes
- 9% of all collisions were caused by distracted driving
The Leading Causes of Fatalities in 2013
Here are the five leading causes of fatal motor vehicle collisions in 2013:
- 40% of all fatal collisions involved excessive speed
- 35% of all fatal collisions involved failure to remain in the proper lane
- 28% of all fatal collisions involved not using a seat belt
- 10% of all fatal collisions involved drunk or intoxicated driving
- 10% of all fatal collisions involved a failure to yield
Five Deadly Mistakes Made by Utah Drivers in 2014
Here are five of the deadliest mistakes that Utah drivers made in 2014:
- 72 lives were lost because drivers or passengers did not buckle up
- 70 lives were lost as a result of drunk driving/use of drugs while driving
- 68 lives were lost because of aggressive driving behaviors
- 22 lives were lost because of distracted driving (e.g., texting behind the wheel)
- 6 lives were lost as a result of driver fatigue and falling asleep behind the wheel
Keep these deadly behaviors in mind. Driving safe and carefully can save your life and the lives of others.
Learn More About Your Legal Options After an Auto Accident
To learn more about your legal options following a major auto accident, it's important that you contact an experienced auto accident lawyer today. Lynn C. Harris will fight diligently for you in your time of legal need.
