The auto industry has gone through several advancements in technology that increased the safety features of cars in recent years. Despite these developments, the driver can still play a significant role in ensuring the safety of the people around him. Due to this, traffic laws ensure the safety of everyone using the different roads across the country.
But when traffic laws are not implemented, accidents will happen. And in cases where non-motorists get hurt, a reliable pedestrian accident lawyer is necessary to get compensation for the accident. This highlights the importance of enforcing traffic laws to keep people safe.
Here are some common traffic violations that can endanger motorists and pedestrians alike.
Speeding
The speed of a vehicle plays a significant role in keeping the streets safe for everyone. Excessive speeding caused the death of 9,478 people in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The enforcement of speed limits is essential to avoid these accidents.
While the use of speed bumps can limit the speed of vehicles, these are only practical in the city and municipal streets. On the highways, the authorities set up automated roadside speed camera systems to catch motorists violating the speed limit. The authorities also set up roadside speed traps to monitor the speed of vehicles along the highway.
Motorists should remember that going past the speed limit can increase the risk of an accident and reduce the effectiveness of the protective equipment of the vehicle. It also increases the severity of a crash in case the vehicle causes an accident. Additionally, speeding also increases fuel consumption even if the motorist can get to his destination in one piece.
Distracted Driving
Another common traffic violation that many American motorists commit is distracted driving. Motorists get distracted by a lot of things while they are on the road. These distractions include a phone call or text, drinking or eating, and interacting with the car’s passengers. The risk of an accident increases when a person is distracted while driving. If the driver takes his eyes off the road for five seconds to perform a non-driving activity, it may result in a major accident.
Due to this, law enforcers will pull over drivers caught doing these things when they are driving. Since it is challenging to enforce this law, parents should do their part and show a good example to their children when they drive. This is particularly true if they have teenage children who are learning how to drive. The parents should lead by example.
Stop Sign Violations
Stop signs are positioned in strategic areas across the country to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians. Despite this, many drivers ignore these signs and do not come to a complete stop when they approach an intersection without a traffic light. Some may even ignore the sign altogether and do not slow down at all. This can result in collisions and other accidents in intersections.
Many of these violations are connected with other traffic violations that drivers commit, including distracted driving and reckless driving. While the penalty for this traffic violation is small, the risk of a bigger accident increases.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is another traffic violation where a driver disregards traffic laws and does not care about the safety of other people on the road. This moving traffic violation involves willfully driving a vehicle while disregarding everyone else. The violation can result in fines or imprisonment, depending on the situation. It can even cause the suspension and revocation of the license. When a person drives recklessly, he disregards traffic laws and switches lanes without considering the presence of other people on the road.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence (DUI) is more than just a simple traffic violation since it is a serious crime that drivers should avoid committing. Drivers should make sure they are responsible when they get behind the wheel of their car. So, they should make sure they are sober before they drive the car.
Crashes due to drunk driving kills 28 people every day across the country. Even as the figure went down in 2019, a report from the NHTSA shows that 10,142 people died due to drunk driving since 1982. Drivers should understand that alcohol affects the way the brain functions. It can also impair thinking and muscle coordination.
The penalties for DUI can cost a driver at least $10,000 for his first offense. The penalty will increase if the driver causes an accident that results in injury or loss of life.
The authorities enforce traffic laws to prevent accidents and keep the roads safe for both motorists and pedestrians.
