California passed several new laws that came into effect . . .
The more we know about the causes of car accidents, the more we can do to prevent them.
According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), a database that collects and processes collision scene data, the most common causes of car accidents in California in 2013 were:
Unsafe speed: 48,050 injuries, 436 deaths
Automobile right-of-way issues: 24,247 injuries, 215 deaths
Improper turning: 21,863 injuries, 544 deaths
Traffic signals and signs: 12,494 injuries, 138 deaths
Bicycling or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 11,861 injuries, 568 deaths
Unsafe lane changes: 6,521 injuries, 56 deaths
Wrong side of the road: 5,257 injuries, 129 deaths
Pedestrian right-of-way: 4,199 injuries, 97 deaths
Pedestrian violation: 3,796 injuries, 432 deaths
Following too closely: 3,587 injuries, 3 deaths
Souce: WB&S2023