Ontario is Canada’s most densely populated province, and the traffic accident statistics reflect this fact. While there are many causes of road accidents in Ontario, most come down to negligence on the part of other drivers. If you have been injured in a road accident that was caused by someone else’s dangerous driving practices, seeking the legal guidance of a personal injury lawyer in Hamilton can help.
Where Are the Most Car Accidents in Ontario?
While dangerous traffic accidents can happen anywhere, some spots are riskier than others, and according to wide-ranging statistics, they are more likely to occur in the following locations:
- Highway 40l between London and Windsor
- North York
- Scarborough
- Brampton
Some of the most dangerous roadways in Toronto include:
- Leslie and Sheppard
- St. Clair and Vaughan
- Spadina and Lake Shore
- Eglinton Ave. West and Allen Rd.
- Dundas Ave. West and Roncesvalles
How Many Car Accidents Per Day in Ontario?
In order to answer how many car accidents per day in Ontario, we must consider how many car accidents in Ontario per year. According to the Ministry of Transportation – for the most recent year that preliminary statistics are available – there were a total of 23,878 fatal and injury-causing traffic collisions in Ontario. This translates to an average of 65.24 accidents per day. Of these accidents, 511 were fatal, and 541 people lost their lives.
What Is the Most Common Type of Collision in Canada?
When it comes to car accidents in Ontario, the most common type of collision is almost certainly the rear-end accident, which is closely associated with nearly every kind of driver negligence. For example, a distracted driver who is more interested in their phone than in the road ahead can easily lose track of the distance between their own and the forward vehicle, and a rear-end accident becomes a distinct possibility.
Rear-end accidents are exceptionally dangerous accidents that can cause complicated breaks, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that can lead to chronic pain and significant decreases in range of motion and is very closely associated with rear-end collisions.
10 Causes of Road Accidents
When it comes to the cause of road accidents, there are 10 that are cited most often.
One: Driving while Distracted
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in Ontario. Consider the following sobering statistics:
- Someone is injured in a traffic collision that was caused by distracted driving every half hour.
- A motorist who is on their phone is four times more likely to cause an accident than a driver who focuses their complete attention on driving safely.
It is widely accepted that texting behind the wheel is the deadliest distraction of all. In the average of five seconds that it takes to read or write a text, a motorist can travel about 110 metres at highway speeds. When a driver who isn’t paying attention to the road travels this distance, it puts everyone on the roadway at considerable risk.
Two: Driving while Impaired
Throughout Canada, the leading criminal cause of death and injury is impaired driving. Motorists who are impaired by alcohol or drugs experience diminished cognitive, sensory, and physical abilities – all of which make it far more difficult to drive safely.
Three: Driving while Drowsy
Driving while under the influence of exhaustion can be as dangerous as both distracted and impaired driving, but it generally does not get the same level of attention. Too many drivers fail to take how tired they are into account when they get behind the wheel, and it can lead to significant impairments that, in turn, cause accidents.
Some of the signs associated with drowsy driving that motorists should pay attention to include the following:
- Heaviness in the eyes
- Frequent blinking
- Frequent yawning
- Vision that wanders out of focus
- Disjointed thoughts
- Unintentional changes in speed
- Slowed braking reactions
- Drift to either side of the road
- The jolt of hitting the rumble strips
If you see another driver that you suspect may be drowsy, put as much space between you and the other driver as possible.
Four: Driving Too Fast
Speed is a primary cause of fatal traffic accidents throughout Ontario, Canada, and the world. The faster the driver’s speed, the more likely they are to cause an accident and the more likely the accident is to prove deadly. When motorists choose to exceed the posted speed limit, they ensure that they have less time to react to dangers on the road and that they increase the potential impact of those dangers.
Five: Driving Too Close
Drivers who crowd others on the road put everyone in danger. The fact is that there are plenty of unknown variables when it comes to driving, and everyone who accepts the immense responsibility of driving must safely address whatever comes their way. This can mean an accident ahead, a semi that loses a tire, an animal on the road, a breakdown, debris on the road, the dangerous effects of bad weather, or anything else. When a motorist fails to allow themselves the space they need to make corrections in the face of a risk factor, they significantly increase the risk that an accident will happen.
The number of drivers who make it their habit to tailgate as a show of aggression or an attempt to get somewhere more quickly is on the rise, and our roads are more dangerous as a result.
Six: Failing to Ensure Adequate Vehicle Maintenance
Drivers are responsible not only for following the rules of the road but also for ensuring that their vehicles are road worthy. When motorists head out in vehicles that are at increased risk of breaking down, they increase the risk that they’ll cause dangerous accidents. Some of the issues that are commonly associated with traffic crashes include tires and brakes that are subpar.
Seven: Ignoring Road Signs and Signals
Stop signs, stop lights, and other road signs are all posted to help traffic proceed safely, and drivers who ignore these signs and signals do so to the detriment of all. We’re never more vulnerable on the road than when we travel through intersections – where traffic flowing in every direction converges – and when other motorists throw caution to the wind by ignoring the traffic signals, serious accidents involving multiple vehicles are common.
Eight: Driving with a Medical Condition that Interferes with Safety
Illnesses and health conditions such as poor vision, anxiety, depression, or illness that require medications that cause drowsiness or other side effects are common causes of traffic crashes.
Nine: Failing to Factor in the Effects of Bad Weather
Rain, sleet, ice, snow, high winds, fog, and other forms of bad weather all require drivers to adjust their driving accordingly, which invariably includes slowing one’s speed. Motorists who fail to take the necessary precautions make accidents far more likely – bad weather is closely associated with spikes in accident statistics.
Ten: Failing to Plan Ahead
Too many drivers get behind the wheel without a plan regarding how they’ll get from Point A to Point B, which can lead to fiddling with the GPS behind the wheel as well as failing to take proactive steps to take exits and turns safely. Planning ahead is an important part of safe driving.
What Are the Causes of Accidents on Roads?
In summary, accidents on the roads of Ontario are generally caused by driver negligence. This can mean driving a vehicle that shouldn’t be on the road in the first place, engaging in a broad category of driver negligence like distraction or impairment, failing to follow the rules of the road, or tailgating – to name a few. In other words, motorists are the primary cause of traffic collisions. If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured, you shouldn’t wait to discuss the matter with a seasoned Ontario personal injury lawyer who has considerable experience successfully guiding complex claims like yours toward favourable resolutions.
What Causes the Most Road Accidents in Ontario?
The primary cause of traffic collisions in Ontario is driver negligence – in one form or another. Motorists are tasked with taking every precaution necessary to help protect the safety of everyone on the road, and failure to do so is considered negligence. This responsibility begins with drivers maintaining their cars in road-worthy condition and extends to all the following:
- Ensuring that they are healthy enough to drive safely in the first place, which includes evaluating the effects of any medications they are taking
- Ensuring that they’re well-rested enough to drive safely
- Putting distractions such as smartphones away
- Never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Following all the rules of the road, including all posted signs and signals
- Adjusting their speed downward in response to risk factors on the road, such as the deleterious effects of bad weather
- Allowing ample space between vehicles
Help protect your rights and your rightful compensation by reaching out and contacting Derek Wilson Personal Injury Law.
