CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

Road safety reduces the risk of road accident or injury on the roads , this is being achieved through multidisciplinary approaches involving: vehicle design, road engineering, traffic management, education and training of road users.
Throughout the world, millions of people are either killed, maimed or injured on the roads each year. Casualty rates vary widely depending on population and traffic density and the extent to which preventive and remedial measures have been applied. In 1992, the lowest death rate per head of population of the order of 8 per 100000 were in the united kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Comparable rates in other developed countries were 12 in Australia, 19 in New Zealand, 15 in the United States and in Europe ranged up to 34 for Portugal.
There are many factors contributing to road accidents. However research has shown that human factors contribute to95 per cent of accidents, road factors to about one quarter and vehicle factors to fewer than 5 per cent. The main human errors are: excessive speeding, failing to give way at junction, driving too closely, improper overtaking and misjudging road situation ahead. Impairment of judgement as a consequence of drinking alcohol is also a major factor. Road deficiencies that are main contributory factors are: poor design or layout and control at junctions, inadequate signing, road marking, lighting, slippery roads and obstruction on the roads such as broken down vehicles. The main vehicle factors are defects in tyres, brakes, lights and general poor maintenance of the vehicle.