The first random fact you need to know is that Americans spend an average of 38 hours a year just sitting in traffic going nowhere.
That action – or inaction – wastes an estimated 26 gallons of gasoline per person per year. In Los Angeles the situation is even worse! There, drivers waste the most gas in the whole of America, sitting in traffic for 78 hours per year.
So it’s hardly surprising that the frustration that builds from so much waiting sometimes erupts into erratic, or even dangerous behavior, when the cars start moving again.
However, in spite of that, people disagree on the question of whether there is such a thing as a “preventable accident”. According to the dictionary definitions, an accident is something that happens “unexpectedly and unintentionally” or “an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause”.
So, according to those criteria, there is nothing to be done. On the other hand, if a motorist is, for example, texting while driving and smashes into a tree, is that an accident or an act of monumental stupidity?
To help you decide, you need to cast your eyes over this small collection of random facts about automobile accidents in America to understand the size of the problem.
1. In the USA, there is an accident with a train and a motor vehicle at a grade crossing every 5 hours, on average.
2. According to a study by the nation’s largest auto insurer, the greatest percentage of accidents occur between 3 PM and 6 PM on Fridays.
3. One-third (33%) of all teenagers will have an automobile accident within one year of obtaining their driver’s license.
4. The rear middle seat is the safest seat in the car – 16% safer than any other seat. Riding in the back seat is 59% to 89% safer than riding in the front seat.
5. Cell phone usage while driving is responsible for 6% of all accidents.
6. A driver is four times more likely to be involved in an accident while using a cell phone.
7. One in four drivers admits to texting while driving.
8. The three deadliest days in the U.S. for pedestrians have been January 1, December 23 and October 31.
9. Results of a 17-year study show that cars painted white were less likely to be involved in accidents than cars of any other color. At dawn or dusk, black cars had a 47% higher crash risk than white cars.
10. Apart from these random facts, we thought you would be interested to know the results of some research into who make the best – or worst – drivers.
A study of 40 groups and occupations showed that the WORST drivers are:
1. Students
2. Medical doctors
3. Lawyers
4. Architects
5. Real estate agents
The BEST drivers in this study were:
1. Homemakers
2. Politicians
3. Pilots
4. Firemen
5. Farmers
Where do you figure in these lists? Or are you in a category of your own?
Do you know of any other random facts about automobile accidents in America?
You can share them simply by using the comments feed below.
