Driving behaviors that may increase the risks of a rear-end crash

While a car accident can take place under various circumstances, some types of collisions continue to be more common than others. Studies indicate that rear-end accidents account for more than 30% of all collisions across the nation and in many cases, such incidents may be entirely avoidable.

Even if you take care to stay a safe distance from other vehicles while out on Delaware roads, others might not always do the same. In addition, spacing might not be the only concern, as there are numerous types of driving behavior that may increase the chances of a rear-end collision.

Dangerous behaviors

Rear-end accidents can have disastrous outcomes that could leave you facing life-altering repercussions. Some types of behavior that could increase your chances of being involved in such an incident could include:

• Excessive speeding: Speeding continues to be a leading cause of rear-end crashes and those who operate at high speeds may struggle to react to changes in traffic patterns in time to avoid a collision.
• Impaired driving: Drivers who operate a vehicle while impaired may struggle to judge distances and speeds and run a greater risk of causing a rear-end collision to occur.
• Distracted driving: Driver distractions can force you to take your eyes off the road or hands off the wheel or even divert your attention off the task at hand, each of which could prove dangerous.
• Weather conditions: Those who fail to adjust driving behaviors during times of adverse weather may also be at greater risk of creating a hazardous situation.
• Tailgating: Following closely behind other vehicles inherently provides you with less time to react to shifts in traffic patterns and such behavior remains a common cause of rear-end crashes.

Driver fatigue also remains a major concern and those who succumb to drowsiness while behind the wheel could struggle to allow sufficient space and time to slow down and avoid a potential disaster.

When a crash occurs

Knowing the common causes of rear-end collisions could help you better understand what types of behavior to avoid while driving. Unfortunately, it may do little to help you escape the negligent actions of others, and should a collision occur, the incident could leave you suffering severe injuries and facing a long road to recovery. If the other driver causes the crash, it might be in your best interests to seek insight on the next steps to take to seek accountability.