You might feel safe driving around the familiar streets near your house or apartment, but according to data on American driving habits, those neighborhood streets may be more dangerous than you’d expect.
According to insurance company Esurance, the vast majority of auto accident situations occur close to home. While taking that long road trip or driving out to visit family in Farmington, Utah might seem more dangerous, statistics show you’re far more likely to make the call to the local personal injury lawyer for an auto accident that occurs around the neighborhood.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of collisions in the United States occur within a 5-mile radius of the home, and 69 percent of collisions occur within 10 miles. While so many accidents occur on familiar streets, most of them are only minor accidents such as hitting parked cars and other fender-benders. Though remember even for minor vehicle collisions, you should always give your local auto accident lawyer a call.
Why do so many accidents occur near the home? For one thing, motorists simply drive on local streets more often; drivers also tend to have a false sense of security when it comes to driving around the Farmington neighborhood. Motorists relax on familiar streets, effectively going on autopilot and relying more on muscle memory than active driving skills.
Drivers can protect themselves against local fender-benders by practicing standard safe driving skills: staying alert and buckling that seatbelt. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the main excuse drivers give for not wearing seat belts is that they’re only going a short distance. With so many crashes occurring close to home, it’s more important than ever to buckle up and stay safe in the event of an auto accident.
With drivers racking up most of their miles close to their Farmington homes, it’s inevitable that car accidents will occur — but by buckling up and practicing safe driving techniques, the number of accidents can be reduced. If you do get into an accident, however, don’t hesitate to call your lawyer.