REPORT: Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes by Vehicle Type
- South Carolina, 2008
REPORT: Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes by Vehicle Maneuver – South Carolina, 2008
Does the type of car you drive have an effect on your likelihood of being in a fatal auto accident?
According to the statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through their FARS program (Fatality Analysis Reporting System), the answer appears to be no. In a study of fatal auto accidents for the year 2008, passenger cars and light trucks accounted for 80% of the vehicles involved in fatal auto accidents, each being involved 40% of the time. Due to the fact that most autos on our highways are either cars or light trucks, this is no surprise. What may be a surprise, however, is the percentage of accidents involving motorcycles.
Motorcycles account for 2 percent of all registered autos on our highways, according to the NHTSA. Despite this fact, for the year 2008, motorcycles accounted for better than 10% of all fatal accidents on South Carolina highways. 121 of the more than 1100 people who lost their lives on South Carolina highways were on motorcycles, a truly alarming statistic. The inherent dangers involved in motorcycle riding lies mainly in the lack of protection a motorcycle operator has on the highway. With little more between them and the pavement than a helmet and the clothes on their backs, the chances of a South Carolina motorcycle accident becoming fatal are much greater.
Does the type of maneuver I am performing in my auto contribute to my chance of being in a fatal auto accident in South Carolina?
According to statistics in this same report, the answer is yes, but the maneuver may not be the one you think it is. While turning left or merging into traffic have long been considered the most dangerous of maneuvers a driver can undertake, it is driving straight ahead on a highway that is the most dangerous maneuver a driver can undertake behind the wheel. And the numbers aren’t even close. An alarming 86.8% of the fatal auto accidents on our highways occur when drivers are going straight, that’s 918 of the total 1058 fatalities for the year 2008.
Turning left (4.3%) and starting in a traffic lane (3.1%) are the next two most common maneuvers that result in fatal auto accidents, but they are nowhere near as common as traveling straight ahead. When you stop to think about it, this is not really much of a surprise. The vast majority of time we drive, we are traveling straight ahead. This is also the time when we are most likely to be traveling at the highest rate of speeds, which makes our opportunity and ability to avoid accidents much more difficult.
As we take to the highways on a daily basis, it is important to remember that vigilance and adherence to all traffic rules are the best defenses we have against being involved in fatal auto accidents. Sometimes, however, even these precautions are not enough to protect us. We have no control over the actions of negligent drivers who may put our safety at risk. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a serious auto accident, contact the experienced South Carolina car accident attorneys at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers for a FREE consultation. We can help protect your rights under the law and get you the money you deserve.
