Top 25 Causes of Car Accidents in the United States

Distracted driving, which includes texting, eating, or adjusting your GPS, is the leading cause of accidents nationwide. In one recent year, an estimated 3,308 fatalities and over 289,000 injuries were attributed to distracted driving. Remember, taking your eyes off the road for even five seconds at 55 mph is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded!

Prevention Tip: Keep your phone out of reach and avoid multitasking.

Driving above the speed limit reduces your ability to react quickly and increases the severity of an accident. Over a quarter of traffic fatalities in the U.S. involve speeding.

Prevention Tip: Always allow extra time to reach your destination to avoid feeling rushed.

Driving under the influence impairs judgment, slows reaction time, and affects coordination. In 2021, drunk driving caused nearly 30% of all traffic-related fatalities in the U.S.

Prevention Tip: Use a designated driver or rideshare service like Uber or Lyft to get home safely when drinking.

Aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, cutting in and out of traffic, or ignoring road signs are clear signs of reckless driving. These dangerous actions not only put the reckless driver at risk but also endanger everyone on the road.

Prevention Tip: Remain patient, and never escalate tensions on the road.

Rain reduces visibility and creates slick surfaces, leading to hydroplaning and loss of control. Nearly 70% of weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement.

Prevention Tip: Reduce your speed during rain, maintain proper tire tread, and increase the length behind vehicles to give yourself time to stop.

Driving while drowsy slows reaction times and impairs decision-making. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) attributes 90,000+ crashes annually to driver fatigue.

Prevention Tip: Take regular breaks during long drives and avoid driving when you’re tired.

Icy roads can be deceptive, making stopping and turning significantly harder. Black ice is particularly dangerous because it’s nearly invisible—and any type of ice can increase your stopping distance by at least 10 times.

Prevention Tip: Drive slowly and avoid sudden braking during icy conditions.

Running red lights and ignoring traffic signals cause serious crashes, especially at intersections. According to the IIHS, over 1,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes that involved running a red light in 2022.

Mechanical failures, such as brake problems or engine trouble, can cause serious accidents. When a vehicle malfunctions, drivers often have little warning and even less time to react appropriately.

Prevention Tip: Keeping up with regular maintenance, like checking your brakes, tires, and engine, can go a long way in preventing these problems and keeping you safe on the road.

Drivers who enter highways or streets against traffic can cause head-on collisions, which are among the deadliest. Confusion caused by poorly marked ramps, driver impairment, or distractions is often to blame for these incidents.

Prevention Tip: Stay alert for signage and use GPS to avoid confusion, especially in unfamiliar areas.

Driving under the influence of drugs, including prescription medications, impairs cognitive and physical abilities. Drug-related crashes are on the rise in the U.S.

Prevention Tip: Understand your medications’ side effects and never drive after using recreational drugs.

Limited visibility and glare from headlights make nighttime driving challenging. Nearly half of all fatal crashes occur at night.

Prevention Tip: Use your high beams when appropriate and keep your windshield clean.

Narrow lanes, unexpected detours, and distracted workers make construction zones hazardous for drivers. Unaware workers on or near the roadway further increase the risk of accidents, as do reduced speed limits that some drivers fail to observe.

Prevention Tip: Slow down and follow posted signs when navigating work zones. Use extra caution and do not speed.

Failing to signal or check blind spots before switching lanes leads to sideswipes and crashes. The danger increases in high-speed areas, such as highways, where reaction times are shorter, and the impact of even minor collisions can be severe.

Prevention Tip: Always signal your intentions and check mirrors and blind spots.

Actions like tailgating, speeding, or intentionally cutting off other drivers are clear signs of road rage. This dangerous behavior leads to thousands of accidents every year, putting everyone on the road at risk.

Prevention Tip: Stay calm, avoid engaging with aggressive drivers, and focus on your own safety.

Sharp turns can catch drivers off guard, particularly at high speeds or in poor weather conditions. Taking a turn too quickly can cause a vehicle to skid, roll over, or veer off the road, increasing the risk of serious accidents.

Prevention Tip: Slow down before entering curves and obey warning signs.

Inexperience and risk-taking behaviors make teenagers more prone to accidents. Teens are nearly three times more likely than adults to be involved in fatal crashes.

Prevention Tip: Encourage safe driving habits and limit distractions for new drivers.

Wildlife and livestock on roads can cause drivers to brake suddenly or swerve, which can lead to animal collision accidents. Deer and smaller animals are especially active at dawn and dusk, when visibility is reduced. In rural areas, larger animals like cows or horses can wander onto roads, and their size increases the potential for severe damage in a collision.

Prevention Tip: Stay alert in rural areas, especially at dawn and dusk.

One of the most dangerous aspects of driving in snow is the unpredictability. Sudden snow squalls or black ice—thin, nearly invisible layers of ice on the road—can catch even experienced drivers off guard. Additionally, snow-covered roads can obscure potholes, curbs, and other obstacles, further increasing the risk of accidents.

Prevention Tip: Use snow tires and reduce speed during winter storms.

Thick fog limits visibility and can make it difficult to judge distances, often resulting in multi-car pileups. Fog-related crashes are often compounded by drivers failing to adjust their speed to the reduced visibility or neglecting to use proper lighting, such as low beams or fog lights.

Prevention Tip: Use low beams and reduce speed when driving in fog.

Street racing pushes drivers to take dangerous risks, such as sudden lane changes, weaving between cars, and ignoring traffic signals. Illegal racing doesn’t just put the racers in danger—it also threatens the lives of innocent bystanders and other drivers sharing the road.

Prevention Tip: Report street racing to authorities and avoid areas where it is known to occur.

Following too closely leaves little time to react if the vehicle in front stops suddenly. Tailgating is a major cause of rear-end collisions.

Prevention Tip: Maintain a safe following distance—at least three seconds between cars.

A sudden tire failure can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle. Tire failures can result from a variety of causes, including underinflation, overloading, worn-out treads, or striking debris on the road.

Prevention Tip: Check your tire pressure regularly and replace worn tires promptly.

Failing to yield, ignoring signage, or turning from the wrong lane often leads to side-impact crashes. These types of crashes are especially dangerous because the sides of vehicles provide less protection than the front or rear, increasing the risk of serious injuries.

Prevention Tip: Always double-check for oncoming traffic and follow lane markings.

Hitting a pothole can damage tires, throw off alignment, or cause sudden swerving. In more severe cases, potholes can bend rims, damage suspension systems, or even affect the undercarriage.

Prevention Tip: Keep a safe distance from the car ahead to spot road hazards early.