Not the only time that has happened - was it Manchester?
John
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Yes, that was one.
I read a text on aviation accidents once, they all showed a sequence of errors that accumulated. None just happened. Most common reason was fatigue, but why did the fatigue occur, Peter Brock, another example.
Years ago a mate of mine was killed,he climbed the wrong ladder.
He was a linesman,they had just finished their lunch break.
Fatigue was a major cause in this accident.
Today the incident wouldn't happen as they use an EWP not a ladder.
In my opinion,fatigue and distractions are the major cause of the majority of all vehicle accidents.This includes very minor incidents also,not just injury and death related incidents.
Lack of experience is also an issue,but mainly in the younger drivers.
Very few accidents have a single or even a single major cause. While fatigue is a significant factor in at least some motor vehicle accidents, by far the most common factor in fatal accidents (which are the only class of accident that is always fully investigated) is alcohol. Together with this factor you can expect a variety of other factors, including speed, fatigue, peer pressure, road defects, distractions, weather, time of day, etc, etc.
John
According to this...
Crash behavioural factors - Statistics - NSW Centre for Road Safety
Speed is the biggest killer, causing twice as many deaths as fatigue, or alcohol.
Now it does say that in accidents where both speed and alcohol factors are present, they're added to both columns.
That said, I'm skeptical. It may be that old mate looks down at the cigarette he just dropped in his crotch, speed creeps up to 120 and he crosses the road into a tree.
Thus, speed related accident
when the SA govt brought out of the cause of road crash death stats a few years ago, only 4% was due to excess speed and 40% was inattention.
If everyone drove at 20kph then there would hardly be any accidents at all. You could be as inattentive as you like and run straight into a tree and only dent your fender. It's the speed that actually kills you, there's no getting around it.