Car Accidents
Whenever there is a plane or train crash or a ferry disaster, it's headline news. Car accidents are not treated in the same way and they are just taken for granted as a part of life. The vast majority of accidents are the result of human error and perhaps they shouldn't be called accidents at all. They ruin lives and increase insurance premiums.
It shouldn't be a question of money but people who can afford the more expensive cars get more safety features. A lot of car owners do have air bags and they have saved many lives. Any innovation on safety should be a standard component in a vehicle, not an extra, accessible to the few.
Alcohol and both prescription and recreational drugs are a big factor in car accidents. Even a small amount of alcohol can impact on the reactions and judgment of the driver. Drugs such as cannabis stay in the body for a long time and this is a little talked about problem. People who party at night get up the next morning and get behind the wheel, not realizing that alcohol or drugs are still in their system. Many car accidents are caused by drivers incorrectly thinking that they are sober.
Tiredness is another problem, with people becoming drowsy and falling asleep at the wheel. The advice is to pull over and have a break, perhaps call in and grab a coffee somewhere. Whilst driving, avoid car accidents by staying alert and have the window down to allow fresh air to circulate. Turn the radio on for something to stimulate the mind. Car owners who have air fresheners in the car should have the kind that keeps them awake and not the scents that are designed to relax. There are rules governing the number of hours that commercial drivers are allowed to continuously drive but everyone knows that some of their employers put a lot of pressure on them to meet deadlines.
One of the worst accidents in the UK was when a car going along the motorway inexplicably swerved to the left, crashed through a barrier and went down the slope onto the railway track. The driver managed to get out and was calling for help when an oncoming train hit the car at high speed. Many passengers were killed and injured and the car driver was jailed for several years. His defense stated that there had been something mechanically wrong with his car but there was no evidence for this. However, it came out in court that the man had stayed up all night and was driving, having had no sleep. It was concluded that he must have fallen asleep momentarily and lost control of the vehicle. Everyone thinks that these sorts of car accidents won't happen to them but it only takes a second for their life to spiral out of control.
