Car Wreck Trends Show Decline Of Car Accidents

Various studies and statistics come out every year not only to inform people of the damages brought by vehicle accidents but also to monitor the effectiveness of traffic measures being implemented by the government to prevent or at least decrease the occurrence of road accidents.

According to the numbers released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the latest car wreck trends show an almost 10 percent decrease of fatal crashes from 2007 to 2008.

The trend also shows a growing decline in the number of road accidents every year.

In fact, the NHTSA only recorded 37,261 road accidents in the United States in 2008.

This is the first time in more than 4 decades that the number of vehicle accidents was below 40,000, when the average per year is usually around 42,000.

This shows that the traffic laws and measures that are being implemented both federally and by state is rapidly curbing the problem.

It also shows that a lot of drivers are now aware of their responsibilities while driving and during an accident.

Here are some of the most common laws that motorists should be aware of.

Speed Limits

Each state sets their own speed limits and may vary depending on the type of road or land. In addition, these limits may also depend on the type of vehicle and the time of day.

In California, the speed limits are as follows:

• 55 – 65 mph on undivided roads

• 65 mph on divided roads

• 70 mph on freeways

• 65 mph on freeways for trucks

Seatbelt Law

Seat belt laws are divided into the primary and secondary laws.

The primary law allows police officers to ticket a driver for not wearing a seatbelt, without any other traffic offense.

The secondary law states that officers can only issue a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt if there is another citable traffic infraction.

California implements the primary seatbelt law that covers individuals aged 16 and above.

Duty to Stop in an Accident

All drivers are required to stop after an accident especially if there are injuries or death involved.

Person who fails to stop and leave information can aggrava
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te their offenses and may be dealt with stiffer punishments.

The driver is also required to provide assistance to the injured by providing first aid (if knowledgeable) or facilitating transportation of the victim to a hospital.

Duty to Report an Accident

All drivers are required to submit a written report of the accident.

Motorists in California have to submit it to the nearest office of the California Highway Patrol.

If the car accident resulted in injuries or death, then the report has to be submitted within 24 hours from the accident.

Conclusion

The government’s measures are rapidly taking effect and together with responsible drivers, it resulted to a dramatic decrease in the number of personal injuries and wrongful deaths caused by road accidents.

However, there are still negligent drivers out there who have little regard for traffic laws.

If you were injured because of another driver’s negligent driving, consult a car accident lawyer immediately.

By: Mark Dacanay

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