There is arguably no worse feeling in the world than getting a phone call that someone you know was in a car accident. It is the nightmare of every parent or spouse, and yet, crashes and subsequent car repairs are so common to our culture that we hardly think about it when climbing in behind the wheel.
That type of mental dissonance is all too common for drivers around the world — how else could we convince ourselves to take our lives in our hands each day if we didn’t somewhat believe that it’s not going to happen to us? Overcoming this tendency, however, is one of the most important things we can do to ensure not only our safety, but the wellbeing of those around us.
Crashes by the Numbers
As any mechanic at our South Orem car repair shop will tell you, the number of jobs resulting from an auto accident is staggering. According to recent statistics:
- The United States averages around 6 million car accidents a year.
- There are nearly 100 auto-related fatalities every day.
- Over 3 million injuries occur from car crashes each year, two-thirds of which are permanent.
- 1 in 7 people chooses not to wear a seatbelt.
The numbers don’t stop there, with analysts breaking down all sorts of disturbing metrics deriving from data gathered each year. Armed with such facts, it is not just natural that we consider how to stem the tide of car crashes, it is proper. Ultimately, the only hope we have is in the improvement of our knowledge and in turn, our actions.
Causes of Utah Crashes
While Utah might not be altogether different from other states in the Union, when it comes to driving statistics, the numbers we have to live with here are still enough to give us pause. As reported by the Utah Highway Patrol office, the likelihood of being in a fatal accident rises nearly 50% between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend.
In order to combat this trend, and keep everyone from having to make unscheduled trips to the nearest Master Muffler, the state of Utah has revealed the most common reasons for these summer crashes.
Speeding
It would seem that Utah has a bit of a “lead foot” problem. While distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents in the greater US (more on that later), speeding is what causes the most fatalities in the Beehive State.
- Nearly 40% of all accidents that result in a fatality are attributed to speeding
- Accidents are nearly 3 times more likely to end up with a fatality if excessive speed is a factor.
Distracted Driving
The specter of distracted driving haunts every city (and every parent’s dreams) in America as technology places more of a demand on young people’s mental health. As kids grow up, they feel a greater need for instant validation thanks to social media and texting, which doesn’t go away as they get older. And with so many distractions to tantalize us, from music to makeup, it’s only getting harder.
- In 2018, 1 in 5 fatalities of distracted driving accidents weren’t driving a car.
- Nearly 40% of all car trips involve distracted driving at some point.
- Teenagers are 3 times more likely to be in a fatal car crash due to distractions than someone 20 years old or older.
Impatience
Despite the trickiness of driving over ice and snow, more people have to visit our South Orem car repair center in the summer because of vacation traffic. As soon as the weekend hits, or people gather themselves for a vacation, the eagerness of getting somewhere quickly creates a terrible cocktail when mixed with the influx of drivers.
- Saturday afternoon is statistically the most dangerous time to drive in the summer.
Before starting out on a car trip — whether it’s to a different state or simply to the grocery store — it is important to make sure that you are ready to be safe on the road. This goes beyond reminding oneself that texting and driving is bad (which it is), but in making sure the car is roadworthy. Master Muffler can perform any car repair you need quickly and efficiently so that you can go out there and have a great time without becoming a statistic.
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