Do you know your chances of dying in a car crash? Your odds of being in a car accident? Car accident statistics can be incredibly sobering, especially if you’ve ever driven while you were drunk (the unfortunate reality is that many people have).
Car accidents are more common than many people think, especially as texting and other items of technology have begun to compete for our attention.
Below are stats we hope you consider next time you think of getting behind the wheel while impaired:
Your chances of getting in an alcohol-related accident are higher than you might think.
Drunk Driving Statistics
Many people know that drunk driving is bad, but they may not know what actually constitutes “drunk.” Some may think that as long as they’ve only had a “few,” they are fine.
But a total of 9,967 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2014, and according to the same source 28 people die of drunk driving crashes every day. 1.1 million drivers were arrested for a DUI in 2015 alone, which means that many drivers are still driving while drunk without knowing the risks. Even more concerning, every 2 minutes someone will be injured in a drunk driving crash.
Texting and Driving Statistics
When it comes to texting and driving vs drinking and driving, both are incredibly risky. Your changes of getting in a car accident go up dramatically when you are texting and driving and people text and drive far more often than they drink and drive. In fact, studies show 26% of car crashes that occurred in 2014 involved the use of a mobile phone.
Even though texting and driving is now illegal in many places, studies have shown that 43% of people ignore these laws. Every year, a staggering 1,161 people are injured in a car crash that involves distracted driving, and eight people are killed. Distracted driving statistics show that it may be the largest risk, vastly increasing your chances of getting in a car accident.
Fatal Car Accident Statistics
What are your odds of dying in a car accident overall? 2016 was the deadliest year for car accidents in America, with a 6% increase in deaths from 2015 and a 14% increase in deaths since 2014. 37,000 people in the United States will die in a road crash every year, with 8,000 of those fatal car crashes involving drivers that are aged 16 to 20.
There are approximately 10.9 deaths per 100,000 individuals and a total of 1.13 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. But while it may be statistically unlikely to die in a car accident, it is fairly likely to be a part of one.
These auto accident statistics reveal that distracted driving is likely a contributing factor to an ever-increasing car accident death rate. Car accident fatalities have been going up dramatically in the last few years, and a car accident death is now on the horizon for one in every 10,000 people.
Those who want to be able to protect themselves will need to learn to drive defensively and to avoid any distraction while on the road, including the temptation to interact with mobile technology and text while driving.