Think other drivers are worse than ever? You may be right.

On Behalf of | Jan 14, 2025 | Car Accidents |

Do you ever feel like other drivers are getting worse? Maybe you’ve seen people intentionally run red lights just to save a few seconds. Perhaps you feel like someone tailgates you every day on your commute, even though you’re driving five miles per hour over the speed limit. Or maybe you’ve been hit by a driver who ran a stop sign while distracted by their phone.

Statistically speaking, some reports suggest you’re right: Other drivers are getting worse. Car accident rates are increasing—particularly fatal accidents. But what has caused this trend, leading to so many crashes and injuries each year?

Dangerous vehicle designs

Some of the issue lies in dangerous vehicle designs. For instance, many large pickup trucks and SUVs have massive blind spots that prevent drivers from seeing pedestrians or cyclists. This design flaw leads to numerous accidents, such as when a driver makes a right turn through a crosswalk and hits a pedestrian. In many cases, the driver isn’t intentionally being reckless—they simply didn’t realize the pedestrian was there.

Reliance on technology

Another factor is that some drivers have become overly reliant on the technology in their vehicles to keep them safe. For example, a driver may be more likely to look at their phone if their car has a self-driving mode. Similarly, drivers might depend too heavily on systems like blind spot monitoring or forward collision warning devices. Instead of focusing on driving safely, they trust the technology to do it for them, allowing their own driving skills to deteriorate.

The future of road safety

It’s difficult to predict whether this trend will reverse or if the roads will continue becoming more dangerous. If you are injured in an accident caused by another driver, take the time to explore your legal options to protect yourself and seek compensation.