Speeding Causes a Lot of Injuries, but Lane Departures Kill

The dangers of speeding are well-known. The causes of it are, too: people run late, or they get distracted and they bear down on the pedal. Some people do it because they’ve been struck in traffic and they’re frustrated; others just think they won’t get caught. In the end, though, speeding and aggressive drivers cause a lot of damage – and a lot of heartbreak.

In Arizona, motor vehicle accidents caused by speeding lead to the greatest number of injuries, but it’s lane departures which lead to the greatest number of fatalities. In fact, the Arizona Department of Transportation reported that both behaviors contributed to over 1,000 fatalities and around 35,000 injuries in 2021.

What is a lane departure car accident?

A lane departure car accident occurs when a vehicle suddenly changes lanes or drifts into another lane. This can include crossing the center line or the outer edge line. Most of the time when these accidents occur, it is because the driver ran off the roadway or crossed into another lane, colliding with other vehicles or objects.

Common causes of lane departure accidents

It is more common than you think for lane departures and speeding to go hand-in-hand as it can be very difficult to maintain control of a vehicle when it is going too fast. This can cause the driver to cross into other lanes or run off the roadway. Other common causes include:

• Fatigue or drowsiness: When a person is tired, they may become drowsy and start to fall asleep at the wheel. This can lead to losing control of the vehicle and departing their lane.
• Not paying attention/distracted driving: When a driver is reaching for another object in the vehicle or talking on the phone, their attention is taken away from the road. This may result in them veering over into a different lane or running off the side of the road.
• Driving while intoxicated: If an individual gets behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or doing drugs, their reaction times reduce, and they may become drowsy or unable to focus. As a result, they may lose control of their vehicle and move into other lanes, causing a serious accident.
• Not enough experience: Young and inexperienced drivers often swerve between lanes. The reason for this is because they may not understand the dangers that come with this type of behavior or have a hard time controlling the vehicle.
• Failing to check blind spots: One of the most common reasons that people are involved in lane departure accidents is because they failed to check their blind spots. You must look over your shoulder and ensure that no vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian is in your blind spot. If you fail to do this, you may cause an accident and severely injure another driver or person.

Can lane departure and speeding accidents be prevented?

There are several methods currently being used to prevent lane departure and speeding accidents in Phoenix as well as the rest of the country. Some of these methods you may have seen, while others you may not be aware of. Here are the methods currently being used to prevent these types of accidents: