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Driver fatigue contributes to Colorado crashes

Have you ever wondered what causes a car crash in Colorado to occur? Is it speeding, driver error, driver distraction, fatigue, or poor driving skills? The way we have received our crash data and statistics in the past is from information reported to the police. There have been tests done on simulators and test tracks, but no one has ever performed a real-world driving study until now.

Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) recently conducted a "naturalistic" study on 241 drivers. They equipped the volunteers' cars with specialized instrumentation and collected data for one year. The results provided insight on driving habits, skills, and reasons car crashes occur. The statistics include:
82 vehicle collisions (only 15 were police reported)

761 near crashes

8,292 evasive maneuvers

The results found that driver error was to blame in over 90 percent of all vehicle accidents. The leading factor in crashes was driver fatigue. Researchers found that drivers who were sleep deprived had a 4.7 times higher chance of being involved in a vehicle accident than a sharp, alert driver. The second contributing factor was a hand-held wireless device. The findings also included inattention, distraction, and multitasking, among others.

The goal of this study is to improve driving safety and save lives since vehicle accidents in Colorado Springs and throughout the nation are the leading cause of injury-related death for people between the ages of 1 to 65 years old.

If you have been injured, contact a Colorado Springs car accident attorney at the Law Offices of Robert J. Anderson today and get answers to your legal questions at (866) 254-1274.