Final answer:
Driver error accounts for approximately 54 percent of all fatal vehicle crashes, according to the American Automobile Association. This statistic can be analyzed through studies of fatal accidents and crash tests. Variables such as technology, societal behavior, and vehicle emissions also play roles in vehicular safety and related health concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human error is responsible for a significant percentage of all vehicle crashes. According to the American Automobile Association, driver error is noted as the cause of around 54 percent of fatal accidents. When evaluating the AAA data and considering more recent data on crashes and causes, we can arrive at an updated assessment. Furthermore, a safety concern related to motor vehicle incidents is the effect of emissions on public health, where a 2013 MIT study indicated that tens of thousands of early deaths occur annually in the U.S. due to vehicle emissions.
For a more scientific approach, studies or experiments such as analyzing the proportion of fatal accidents caused by driver error or examining the proportion of dummies (in crash tests) that would have sustained head injuries can provide a clearer picture of the risks and factors in vehicular accidents. One example includes examining 30 randomly selected fatal accidents to see if they align with AAA's statistics.
It is imperative to note that vehicle crash statistics and causes change over time due to various factors including road safety measures, vehicle technology advancements, and changes in societal behavior, such as the increase in drug overdose deaths surpassing vehicle crash deaths in recent years.