Why have there been so many more car accidents in Los Angeles lately?
Driving to work and running errands may be a lot more dangerous than you think. While many people in California and throughout the nation drive on a daily basis, they may not know of the increased dangers they face on the roadways.
For many years, the focus of transportation in L.A. has been widening the roadways and increasing the speed in an attempt to get more people to where they need to go quickly according to the Los Angeles Times. Yet, as car accident fatalities rise, the focus is switching to safety over speed.
The trend
A spike in motor vehicle accident fatalities in California and in other states has led lawmakers to take a look at trends and determine what can be done to minimize the problem. Approximately 294 people died in L.A. car accidents in 2021. This was an increase of 24% from the previous year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 31,720 car accident fatalities during the first nine months of 2021, an increase of 12%.
The causes
There are several factors that lead to car accidents, injuries and deaths, including the following:
- Cellphone usage and other distractions
- Traffic violence, such as road rage and aggressive driving
- Speeding
- Drunk, drugged or impaired driving
- Fatigued driving or falling asleep at the wheel
- Failure to wear a seat belt
Programs initiated by the federal government and L.A. aim to reduce the number of motor vehicle accident deaths significantly by 2025. Encouraging drivers to wear their seat belts, avoid distractions and refrain from impaired driving is a fundamental part of the plan.
This article is brought to you by Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm, a full-service personal injury attorney and accident lawyer. We represent clients all throughout California and Los Angeles County, including the Santa Clarita Valley, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Canyon Country, Newhall, and the entire San Fernando Valley.
We can be reached at (661) 270-5677.
This article is meant for informational purposes only.