Auto accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States today. Fortunately the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has identified, through accident statistics, the most common causes of car crashes. Despite the efforts of the government and local law enforcement agencies to maintain road safety and to enforce traffic regulations and of vehicle manufacturers to research and develop improved car safety technologies the most common causes of auto accidents remind us these crashes will still occur at alarming numbers each year. Driving responsibly is the best guarantee against a car accident, and American drivers have it within their power to greatly reduce car accident statistics.

Motor vehicle accident statistics tell us that the leading cause of car accidents are, in descending order, drunk driving, driver negligence and driver distraction, and speeding. These three root causes result not only in minor collisions but are also associated with fatal and high-speed accidents that cause exponentially greater damage to people, property and vehicles than any other kinds of automotive accidents.

Drunk driving is the number one causal factor of all motor vehicle accidents. Drunk driving causes 50% of the auto collisions that happened each weekend of the year, and it is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that on average 1 person dies every 30 minutes as a result of an alcohol-related car accident. Drunk drivers or those driving under the influence of alcohol are a danger to everyone on the road, and if fewer drivers underestimated this harmful behavior, car accident rates would greatly decrease.

Driver negligence or distracted driving is the second leading cause of all car accidents. Misunderstood or underestimated by most drivers driver negligence can be caused by such common activities as driving while fatigued, becoming distracted by the surrounding scenery while driving, interacting excessively with other passengers or consulting maps or adjusting the music while engaged in operating a motor vehicle. Rubbernecking alone is responsible for approximately 16% of reported automobile accidents. Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving is not only illegal in many states but also triples one's risk of getting into a car accident.

Speeding is illegal and highly dangerous, and the third leading cause of auto accidents. Although third on the list of common causes, accidents caused by speeding are typically devastating because of the greater force of impact higher velocities produce. A large proportion of accidents caused by speeding are fatal and occur on highways or freeways where drivers feel most comfortable driving above the legal limit.