2.4 Contributing Factors that Can Cause Collisions

There are many reasons traffic crashes occur. Driver inattention is the leading cause of vehicle crashes. Other contributing factors include:

• Speeding
• Failing to yield right-of-way
• Making an improper turn
• Failing to obey a stop sign or signal
• Driving on the wrong side of the roadway

Other factors that can contribute to collisions are:

• Roadway conditions
• Weather conditions
• Driver’s physical condition

Traffic collisions on city streets occur primarily at intersections as a result of lane changing or running red lights, while crashes on freeways are mainly caused by tailgating or following too closely. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has identified intersection safety as the number one high-risk area of highway safety. FHWA reports that each year, more than 2.8 million intersection-related crashes occur in the United States, representing more than 44 percent of all reported crashes.