Car accidents are life-changing occurrences that deserve to be avoided at any cost whenever possible.
Some of the common causes of accidents include distracted driving, reckless driving, adverse weather, and poor road conditions, among others. These causes can generally be categorized as either human behaviors or natural causes.
Globally, car crash statistics indicate that negligent driving is one of the leading causes of accidents. Negligent driving describes a wide range of behaviors, that pose danger to not only the driver or passenger(s) but also other road users.
This article explores the driving practices that are considered negligent.
1. Distracted driving
Driving while your attention is diverted from the activity of driving constitutes distracted driving and raises the danger of a car accident. Some of the ways in which you could experience distracted driving include:
- Driving while using your phone to text, call, browse social media, or navigate different apps
- Adjusting the volume of the radio while driving
- Eating while driving
- Paying attention to objects, animals, or individuals outside while forgetting to focus on the road ahead
The result of any of these behaviors is physical distraction, mental distraction, and visual distraction, among others.
2. Tailgating
The act of driving too closely behind the vehicle in front, referred to as tailgating, increases the risk of rear-end collisions. It is responsible behavior for drivers to ensure they maintain a safe distance from the vehicles in front. Failure to do this is considered negligent behavior and is punishable by law in the event of an accident.
3. Impaired driving
Driving is considered impaired if the driver’s ability to make the right decisions and act appropriately while driving is compromised. Driving with fatigue or under the influence of alcohol or other forms of drugs are common examples of impaired driving. Apart from these, driving while sick or physically challenged also impairs your judgment and reaction time.
4. Over-speeding
Exceeding the defined speed limits on different sections of different roads is a common form of negligent driving and a major cause of many accidents. The legal consequences of over-speeding vary from one jurisdiction to another. However, in the event of an accident resulting from over-speeding, victims have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the liable parties.
5. Not yielding to the right of way
Many of the accidents that occur at junctions and roundabouts are a result of drivers failing to yield to the right of way. Drivers may fail to yield to the right of way due to any of the following three reasons:
- Failure to pay attention to the vehicles having the right of way; could be possibly a result of distracted driving.
- Ignorance of traffic laws; it is common for drivers to ignore the need to give way, considering such an action as one that will cause delay on their side.
- Drivers may disregard the safety of others and focus on getting their way while paying little attention to what happens to other road users.
Failure to yield to the right of way is a violation of traffic laws, attracting different forms of punishment in different jurisdictions. Additionally, such an act is considered negligent driving, and if it leads to a car crash, victims can file a lawsuit seeking compensation.
Conclusion
Negligent driving contributes significantly to the high number of car accidents worldwide. There are quite a few practices drivers engage in while driving that can be considered negligent. Top on the list of these practices is distracted driving. These include, among others, eating while driving and using your phone while driving.
Apart from distracted driving, reckless speeding, impaired driving, tailgating, and not yielding to the right of way are all examples of negligent driving. Any of these behaviors has the potential to lead to a car crash, significantly impacting the lives of victims.
