Experts say that the main causes of car accidents are driver distractions. Dangerous distractions that can lead to an accident include cell phones and other devices drivers use while driving. Mobile phones, laptops, electric razors, etc. causes drivers to take their eyes off the road for seconds, potentially causing a serious, if not fatal accident. In response to this, some states in the US have banned the use of handheld cell phones while people are driving. The alternative is to use a hands-free headset that is lightweight and comfortable, and allows the driver to have a conversation without distraction.
Another dangerous distraction is when a driver who has been drinking then tries to drive. The effects of alcohol can and do wreak havoc over time. Anyone with a blood alcohol level of .01 is considered unfit to drive. Effects of drunk driving include drowsiness, loss of concentration, and an inability to judge distances and reaction times.
Neck banging and tailgating are other potentially dangerous habits that many engage in while driving. Rubber necking occurs when drivers slow down to see another accident on the road or anything that seems unusual on the road. When a driver slows a car down too quickly, the driver behind the car often does not have enough time to slow down or stop and rear-ends the vehicle ahead. Rear-end collisions can cause serious injuries. The same applies to following too closely in the sense that a driver who is following a car too closely may not have enough distance to stop suddenly, and the possibility of a serious accident is imminent.
The behavior of a driver causes many accidents; still others are caused by mechanical failure or road conditions. There are technical solutions that are available to help with these problems and have contributed to a decrease in death rates caused by car accidents. They include proximity monitors that let the driver know how close they are to the vehicle ahead; sobriety detectors, which measure the amount of alcohol a driver has consumed, and drift monitors that alert the driver when their car drifts too far to one side of the road or the other.