The density of the population in Vancouver has led to many dangerous auto accidents. The number of auto accidents in Canada continues to rise each year. The total number of auto-related accidents in British Columbia reached 260,000 in 2013. Of those 260,000 people involved in an auto accident, 85,000 sustained injuries. In 2013, 538 people were killed in auto-pedestrian accidents.

Whether you are a regular driver with 20+ years on the road or even just a student driver curious about this new found, life-long skill, nobody is immune to auto accidents. In this article, we will list the most common causes of auto accidents, but we recommend going to a driver’s school to learn more about how to improve your own driving, and decreasing your chances of an accident.

Most Common Causes of Auto Accidents

1. Distractions

Driving while distracted puts the driver, all passengers, and nearby pedestrians at significant risk of bodily harm. Cell phone usage behind the wheel of a moving vehicle is well known to be hazardous. If a driver takes their eyes off the road for 14 seconds to read a text message, they have already blindly traveled a quarter of a mile on a highway. While looking away from the road, there is the chance of crashing into the car in front of you, swerving into another lane, driving off of a cliff, or running over a pedestrian. Other vehicle distractions include applying makeup, eating food, searching for a radio station, yelling passengers, reading a map. Canada might be in position to gain more distracted driving accidents in the future, so be sure to keep your full focus on the road. For yourself, and for others.

2. Aggressive driving/speeding

Some people get aggressive when they get behind the wheel. A naturally easygoing individual may quickly become irritated after they got cut off in traffic one too many times or they sat through stop-and-go traffic for a long time; therefore, they drive way too fast, tailgate slow drivers, and make quick, unexpected lane changes. Reckless driving not only puts the driver and passengers at significant risk of bodily harm but the surrounding drivers as well.

3. Fatigue

Some people will say operating a vehicle while tired is just as bad (if not worse) than driving while under the influence. ICBC concluded that 30% of people have dozed off while operating a motor vehicle. Many of us live busy lives, and it is hard to find enough time to get a good sleep. Auto-accidents resulting from fatigue are usually more common during the summer when more people are taking long road trips, or are generally less worried about the state of the road, due to the clear weather.

Auto-pedestrian Accidents

Drivers may be responsible for auto-pedestrian accidents, depending on whether the impact occurs in a crosswalk or sidewalk, or in the regular flow of traffic. An auto-pedestrian accident occurs when a distracted driver hits a pedestrian trying to cross the street. Both drivers and walkers are expected to follow the rules of the road and exercise their best judgment when in motion. When this type of accident occurs, there may be more than one party held liable. Liable parties can include:

• The driver operating a vehicle that strikes a pedestrian
• The party responsible for maintaining the sidewalk or road
• The pedestrian himself or herself