Usually, when we think about car accidents, we imagine two or more vehicles colliding with one another. However, lots of accidents only involve one vehicle. And while that might sound less scary, data shows that single-vehicle accidents can be just as dangerous as those involving multiple vehicles.

Knowing how these accidents happen is the first step to preventing them. The more you know, the better-prepared you’ll be to stay safe on the roads. This guide will take a look at some common causes of accidents and provide some essential tips to minimize your risks.

How Are Single-Vehicle Accidents Caused?

Drunk and reckless drivers are some of the most commonly-cited causes of car accidents, but there are actually many possible reasons why an accident occurs.

Swerving to Avoid Something or Someone

It’s easy to pin the blame on the driver after an accident. But sometimes, drivers are just trying to do the right thing and end up hurting themselves. Let’s say a pedestrian or a dog steps into the road without warning. You might instinctively swerve to the side to avoid them, and run your car off the road in the process.

Debris or Holes in the Road

Roads need TLC and regular upkeep. But they don’t always get it. And the ones that are poorly-looked after can suffer, with holes and cracks appearing in the surface. When drivers roll over those damaged sections, there are risks of swerves or sudden impacts to their vehicle, which may lead to an accident.

Missing Road Signs

It’s not just roads that can be poorly-maintained, but road signs, too. In some areas, entire road signs may be damaged, obscured, or missing, giving drivers no clue about what lies up ahead. This can be really dangerous, especially in treacherous sections of the road with sharp turns, sudden dips, or strict speed limits. If drivers can’t see the signs, they won’t know what to do and could easily make a mistake.

Exceeding the Speed Limit

While the driver isn’t always to blame, there are cases in which an accident is entirely their fault, due to reckless behavior or speeding. Speed limits exist to keep roads safe and reduce the odds of accidents, but 90% of people still admit to speeding, even though they know it’s risky. Driving too fast makes it much harder to keep your car under control if you need to stop or turn.

Driving Under the Influence

Alcohol is often a factor in the most deadly car accidents. Intoxication slows down reaction times, impairs a person’s decision-making, and generally makes them far more dangerous behind the wheel. Drunk drivers regularly crash into other cars. But sometimes, they simply run their own vehicles off the road, flip them, or crash into the likes of rocks and trees.

Driving While Distracted

You have to stay focused while driving, but in today’s world, with smartphones, GPS devices, and in-car entertainment systems, that’s not always easy. Drivers can easily lose focus when chatting with a passenger, adjusting the radio, or scanning their phone to look at a new notification that just popped up. And it only takes a second of inattention for accidents to occur.

Technical or Mechanical Failures

There’s so much that can go wrong with cars, from the brakes giving out to the tires suffering damage or even something as simple as the windshield wipers stopping working. All of that can cause accidents. Broken brakes and tires can make you swerve, while malfunctioning wipers could impair visibility and make it impossible to see where you’re going on a rainy day.

Tips and Tricks to Reduce Your Risks

All sorts of factors can make a single-vehicle accident happen, and you can’t control all of them. You can’t magically make every other driver follow the speed limit and behave safely, for instance. Nor can you repair every road in the country. But you can still take a few steps and measures to make yourself and your passengers safer.

Here are a few handy tips to bear in mind:

• Pay Attention: Distracted driving kills thousands each year. Don’t let yourself become part of that statistic. Keep your eyes firmly on the road, cut out distractions, and kindly ask passengers to refrain from talking when you really need to focus.
• Look Ahead: Always scan the road ahead to look for possible warning signs or red flags, like a pedestrian who doesn’t seem to be paying attention or large potholes. The earlier you spot something, the more time you’ll have to take the right action and avoid it.
• Practice Safe Driving: Other road users may bend or break the rules, but there’s no need to follow their example. Instead, be a road role model, using your turn signals, stopping at stop signs, and always adhering to the speed limit. You might even inspire other drivers to be better.
• Get Your Vehicle Checked: Mechanical issues with your car could be hiding under the hood. If you don’t get it checked out, you won’t know that something is wrong, until it’s too late. Visit a trusted garage regularly and don’t ignore warning lights on the dashboard.
• Get Your Eyes Checked: Your car isn’t the only thing that might need a quick medical. You may also have to get your eyesight tested, especially as you get older. Glasses or lenses can help you see further away and spot road dangers in time.
• Plan Your Journeys: If you know that certain roads are risky, with holes and bumps, try to avoid them. Look for alternative routes with bigger roads that are more likely to be safe.
• Watch the Weather: If you’re preparing for a big drive, it’s best to do it in clear and comfortable conditions. Check the forecast and avoid driving during storms or heavy snowfall.
• Stay Away: Always keep a bit of distance between your vehicle and those ahead of you, and make sure you aren’t driving too close to the curb, either.

Stay Safe on the Roads

Single-vehicle accidents can be deadly for those involved, and there are such a lot of ways in which they can happen. As stated earlier on, you can’t control everything, and there are always going to be risks on the road.

That’s a simple fact of life.

However, with the proper precautions and sensible driving techniques, you can improve your chances of safe, stress-free journeys, every time you get behind the wheel. Keep these tips in mind and always follow relevant road signs and speed limits to stay safe.