Common Causes of Car Accidents in Alaska

Car accidents are caused by many different things, and some of those things are much more common than others. When you consider the many various dangers that drivers must learn to contend with while driving, it should come as little surprise that certain things are harder to overcome than others, and a result lead to more accidents. Here are four of the most common causes of car accidents here in Alaska.

Distracted Driving

Distractions while behind the wheel are one of the three largest causes of accidents anywhere in the country, and Alaska is no exception to this rule. Today, drivers are more distracted than ever thanks to many of the “convenience” features in cars, cell phones, radio advertisements, navigation systems, and more. If you want to avoid an accident, eliminate as many distractions as possible to prevent them from taking away your attention while you’re behind the wheel.

Unsafe Maneuvers

Reckless driving causes a wide variety of car accidents simply because the driver operating their vehicle negligently often loses control of it and winds up crashing into other drivers, property, or many other things. Speeding, changing lanes without signaling, turning too sharp, failing to yield, and other behaviors could all be considered an “unsafe maneuver,” and many of them are illegal and could result in fines if you’re cited for them because of this danger.

Poor Weather Conditions

Alaska is no stranger to rough weather, particularly when winter rolls around. Icy roads, heavy snowfall, limited visibility, and more are all pretty common conditions to have to battle through when you need to get where you need to go. However, just because we’re used to driving in these conditions doesn’t make them any less of a factor in causing car accidents.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is a major cause of car accidents anywhere, and Alaska is no exception. Drivers who have had a few too many drinks and then get behind the wheel have their ability to make key decisions impaired, their reaction times slowed, and their ability to judge distances significantly hindered. Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of car accident fatalities each year, and unfortunately many of the accidents that cause these tragedies are preventable.