London, 1896: the first motor vehicle death occurs and the coroner on the case is devastated and exclaims "This must never happen again!"

Today even with serious advances in automobile safety, traffic accidents and fatalities continue to rise. The most common causes of automobile accidents today are: distracted driving, driving while fatigued, driving while drunk or under the influence of alcohol, speeding excessively, driving aggressively and inclement weather.

Drivers are distracted by rubbernecking, looking at scenery, fiddling with audio devices, and the behavior of other passengers and by reading books maps or other documents while driving but the single most serious cause driver distraction is the use of mobile phones when operating a car. Driver fatigue can occur to those who have not had enough sleep before taking long trips, can be caused by medications or can be caused by drinking, while drunk driving can only be prevented by never drinking before operating a motor vehicle.

Speeding is inherently dangerous, reducing reaction time and increasing the severity of impact while aggressive driving is unpredictable and inflammatory and can fluster other drivers emotionally. Inclement weather, which can include high winds, icy roads and rain, hail or snow, creates difficult driving and visibility conditions. When driving in inclement weather go more slowly, pull off the road if conditions are too difficult, and be sure to leave extra room between you and other cars in front of you.

There is more that drivers can do to avoid common traffic accidents like fender-benders or more serious collisions at intersections and local streets. At traffic lights, wait a couple of seconds after the green has turned before moving forward to avoid those who may be jumping the red light. Just like when you first learn to cross the street, look both ways to make sure all is clear rather than blindly rushing ahead. Check carefully whenever backing out of any parking spot or driveway looking behind, left and right for people and other vehicles as well as children. When changing lanes in any kind of traffic look in your rearview mirrors and turn your head to check the blind spot before switching lanes.

Always signal timely and appropriately even when there is no one around. Avoid tailgating and allow ample space between you and the car in front of you to prevent rear-end collisions caused by sudden stops. As you drive, continually move your eyes to your rear and side view mirrors and then forward to the car ahead to stay aware of all potential situations and make sure to dim your high beams if another car approaches from the opposite direction.

Traffic accidents damage cars and cause serious injuries and are best avoided. Anyone involved in a car accident should contact an accident attorney directly.