Why You Should Care About Traffic Safety
The human race has always had to fight for our survival. Centuries ago, human beings wielded clubs and spears and hunted gigantic woolly mammoths just so we could feed our kids. (Now we have food stamps)
Back in the day you died by either being eaten by an alligator or catching a mammoth tusk to the face. In modern times there aren’t many creatures actively trying to kill you besides other violent humans, which account for a small percentage of overall deaths in Connecticut.
Today, the biggest killer across the board is overwhelmingly heart disease. The CDC estimates that around 7,138 people die from heart disease in Connecticut per year. Connecticut’s department of public health has estimated higher numbers at ~ 16,000 in the year of 2019.
The violent maiming deaths caused by woolly mammoths and wild bears have been replaced by slow, self inflicted demises sponsored by Taco Bell. Live Mas? More like, “Live Menos” (That means “live less”, because Taco Bell is slowly killing us)
Anyway, the point I’m getting at is this… Although we’ve pretty much eradicated violent and sudden death in society, there is one area of modern life where we risk our lives daily: driving cars.
After heart disease, cancer, and other medical conditions, car accidents rank second as the leading cause of death in Connecticut.
Since 2015 there have been 895,014 car crashes in the state of Connecticut with approximately 300 fatal injuries per year.
In Connecticut, 2022 has been the most deadly year for car crashes with fatalities at 325, a marked difference from previous lows of 237.
Car accidents can cause serious injuries and death.
Some of the most common causes of accidents includ: 1) Weather conditions / road conditions 2) Bad brakes, tires, wheels, etc 3) Highway congestion 4) visual obstructions.
To reduce your liklihood of getting in an accident, here are some tips:
(These tips may seem intuitive, but often times we forget to follow them and it’s important to realize that taking the proper precautions when driving can statstically lower your chances of being in a serious accident.)
- SLOW DOWN
Accodring to the US department of transportation, speeding is a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities. Other data suggests that at 40 mph, a driver has a 15% risk of serious (or worse) overall injury. At 50 mph, the risk is 59%. At 55 mph, the risk is 78%.
Here are some additional tips on how to drive defensively against speeders:
a. If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by.
b. Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicle more easily.
c. Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
d. Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you. - WEAR SEATBELTS
One factor that can elevate a car accident to higher levels of severity is passenger ejection. In 2021, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants were killed. About 50% of those killed were not buckled.
If you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of:
Fatal injury by 45% (Kahane, 2015)
Moderate to critical injury by 50%
If you buckle up in a light truck, you can reduce your risk of:
Fatal injury by 60% (Kahane, 2015)
Moderate to critical injury by 65% (NHTSA, 1984) - FOLLOW THE “SMART” ACRONYM
S – Watch your SPEED.
M – Frequently check your MIRRORS.
A – AVOID distractions.
R – Remember the RULES of the road.
T – Give yourself enough TIME to reach your destination.