According to a 2017 post on the Burlington Post, injuries and property damage resulting from car crashes declined in 2017. The declines have been credited to initiatives by the Halton Regional Police namely Operation RISC (Reducing Intersection Safety Concerns) and RTSS (Residential Traffic/Stop Sign/Speeding) which came into effect in 2015. The police issued 4,576 Provincial Offences Notices, over 1,000 warnings, and 6,495 traffic stops in the first 3 months of 2017 alone.

At Grillo Law, we fully support the government’s measures to reduce road accidents. Our car accident lawyer Burlington will help you throughout the claim process. We also care about your wellbeing and as such, we have prepared this list of the most common causes of car accidents that we hope will help you avoid them.

1. Problem entering intersections

According to a press statement from the police, “Collisions at intersections have a high-risk potential for serious injuries or even death, making intersection safety a priority for Halton Regional Police.”

2. Poor weather

Burlington has a humid continental climate that is characterized by warm, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Monthly mean temperatures range from −4.2 °C in January to 22.3 °C. The average annual precipitation is 109 centimetres of snow and 878 millimetres of rain. Although the climate in Burlington is considered to be mild when compared to the rest of Southern Ontario because of its proximity to Lake Ontario, the snow and the rain can make for dangerous driving conditions.

3. Distractions

According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), distracted driving is a “casual factor in (at least) 30 to 50% of traffic collisions” in the province. If avoiding accidents is not reason enough for you to avoid distracted driving, the associated fines should be. The OPP singles out talking on cellphones as the major accident-causing distraction. In Ontario, using cellphones while driving has been banned since 2009. Other common accident-causing distractions are eating, reading, grooming, and talking to passengers.

4. Not being aware of blind spots

Changing lanes or merging into traffic without a clear view of one’s blind spot is a major contributor to accidents in Burlington. Conversely, you should never drive in the blind spot of another vehicle, particularly the blind spot of large vehicles like buses and commercial trucks.

5. Failure to leave adequate room

Rear-ending is one of the biggest causes of car accidents in Ontario. You should adopt the 3-second rule as advised by defensive driving experts when following another vehicle on normal conditions. Simply pick a stationary landmark that the vehicle in front of you is about to pass, count slowly to 3, and if you pass the landmark before you finish, slow down and repeat the count. Another tip that works is ensuring that you always clearly see the rear-wheels of the vehicle you are about to stop behind.

6. Failure to get enough rest

We all know drugs and alcohol can diminish your reaction time, but few know that lack of enough rest is just as dangerous. If you drive while fatigued or sleep-deprived, you may miss important road hazards and you are more likely to cause an accident. Whenever you feel tired while driving, stop and rest for a few minutes.