Driving in High Desert can be riskier than it sounds, we will explain how dangerous it can be
The High Desert region of the California Inland Empires is a place that has earned its fair share of car accidents. Drivers traveling through this area, which is fairly close to Los Angeles and the scenic San Gabriel mountain range, don’t always drive as attentively as they should.
Since this rural area has a large population of more than eight hundred and ninety thousand residents, it is a place where there is a risk factor that exceeds the average of regular car accidents. Those who live in this High Desert region, which includes Apple Valley residents. This part of California is located in San Bernardino County.
The price of housing is more affordable in this area than in LA and around Los Angeles. The High Desert Region is home to Edwards Air Force Base and plenty of other interesting attractions, including the Route 66 Museum, which is located in the town of Victorville.
High Desert
Car Accident When you travel through this part of California, you will probably drive along Interstate 15. It is the great highway that links LA with Las Vegas and then continues in the distance.
A lot of people drive on this highway every day.
Since it is cheaper to live in the High Desert region, the rate of residents has increased, many people have decided to move to the High Desert region, the number of traffic accidents is also increasing. Car accident statistics are also peaking.
Contact Attorney Contigo today, the High desert attorneys, if you have concerns about an injury caused by an accident. Call us at 866-984.7098.
Data on High Desert
High Desert Traffic Accident Statistics extends widely, making it difficult to get detailed statistics right. With this in mind, let’s consider San Bernardino County’s accident statistics as a basis. The results are quite grim, as this area certainly experiences a lot of traffic accidents on a daily basis.
Being distracted while driving is the leading cause of accidents
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that people behind the wheel make more than two hundred decisions for every mile they drive. The driver must be attentive at all times in order to make the best decision according to the context. Unfortunately, the growing use of handheld digital devices, including iPhones, Androids and other smartphones, creates more distractions than ever before in history.
A groundbreaking study published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2006 found that driver inattention was the primary factor in most accidents and near-accidents. According to research, 80 percent of accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents involve driver inattention. The most common distractions are:
- The use of mobile
- Trying to reach for a moving object inside the vehicle
- Fix your eyes on an object outside the vehicle.
- Read.
- Makeup application
While it is illegal in California to use a handheld cell phone or text while driving, many people continue to engage in these behaviors. The public perception is that texting while driving is the main culprit for 1.600 million accidents annually—it’s indisputably a teen problem, but adults are actually more likely to text than teens. Studies show that texting while driving is six times as dangerous as drunk driving.
The use of a hands-free phone, allowed for drivers over the age of 000 in California, is believed to reduce the risk associated with cell phone use. While this is true to some extent, hands-free devices do not eliminate cognitive distraction, as talking while driving can lead to what’s known as “inattention blindness.”
Other causes
Distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic accidents, but it’s certainly not the only one. Other important causes are:
- DUI/DWI: Operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol slows reaction times and impairs driving. Drunk driving is strongly correlated with fatal traffic accidents. Approximately 30 percent of all deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related. California lost 972 people to drunk driving in 2010 and an additional 17,<> were injured by alcohol-related collisions.
- Drowsiness: Driving while sleep deprived is almost as dangerous as drunk driving. NHTSA estimates that 100,000 car accidents per year are the result of driver fatigue.
- Speeding: Speed is a factor in about 1 in 3 fatal crashes, according to the NHTSA. Which makes it the third important factor of traffic accidents.
- Road conditions: Snow, ice and other adverse weather conditions make driving more dangerous, especially when drivers are acting in the ways described above. The road itself, on the other hand, can increase accidents. Issues such as potholes, uneven pavement, signaling problems, and improper road design make accidents more likely. How to Avoid a Car Accident Some people behave too aggressively while behind the wheel, angry driving can cause you a lot of problems. It’s always important that you stay emotionally balanced while driving, no matter how provoked you feel by other drivers, try to stay calm.
Common Car Accident Injuries: They include broken bones, back injuries, head trauma, whiplash, etc.
What are the worst High Desert roads?
Certain parts of High Desert are more dangerous than others. A “bad” area is Twenty Nine Palms Highway. There have been one hundred and eighty-two cases of deaths on this stretch of the road since 2002.
Another place to exercise your attention and stay cautious behind the wheel is at the intersection of Highway 62 and Yucca Mesa Road.
In addition, Interstate 15’s Cajon Pass has been the scene of multiple fatal crashes and many unpleasant collisions.
If you have been involved in an accident in the High Desert region and believe another driver was wrong, you need a personal injury attorney. At Abogado Contigo, we pride ourselves on offering high caliber legal advice at reasonable prices. Call us at 866.984.7098.
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