The top 3 causes of car crashes in Maryland

In 2020, there were more than 95,000 car accidents in Maryland, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). Car crashes can occur for various reasons, but the MDOT has identified three major causes for these accidents. To avoid getting into a serious collision, you should know about the most common causes of crashes and how to prevent them.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Almost half of the crashes in 2020 in Maryland were caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving constitutes any activity that takes the driver’s attention off the act of driving, such as eating, drinking, texting, talking to passengers and fiddling with the stereo. To prevent distracted driving, keep your eyes on the road at all times and wait until you reach your destination to send a text or respond to a message.

SPEEDING

There were 7,564 crashes caused by speeding in 2020, as reported by the MDOT. Speeding also caused more than 3,000 people to get injuries. The speed limits exist for a good reason. When one person exceeds them, their probability of getting into a serious accident increases.  Because of this, always drive below the speed limit to avoid a collision. Also, when there is bad weather or bad road conditions, drive even slower.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Over the past five years in Maryland, more than 800 people have been killed in crashes involving an impaired or drunk driver. In 2020, more than 6,653 crashes occurred because one of the drivers was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You can avoid being the perpetrator of this type of crash by driving only when sober. If you ever drink alcohol, take a rideshare service or a taxi to go home.

YOUR RIGHT AS A DRIVER

You can reduce the probability of getting in a life-changing accident by driving responsibly and obeying the traffic laws. However, even by taking the appropriate safety measures, an irresponsible driver could hit you. If you ever get into an accident because of someone else’s negligence, you must remember that you can hold the driver responsible in court. No one deserves to pay for another’s mistake, and you can ask a driver for your rightful compensation if their negligence harmed you.