Final answer:
Car crashes often occur close to home because of driver error, increased frequency of driving in familiar areas which may lower alertness, and due to safety innovations like plastics and crumple zones in cars designed to absorb impact and protect occupants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most car crashes happen close to home due to a variety of factors, including driver error, familiarity with the area leading to lower alertness, and the fact that people drive near their homes more often than they do elsewhere. This increase in proximity and frequency results in a higher likelihood of an accident occurring in the vicinity of one's residence. Factors such as collision theory also come into play, where cars may suffer damage due to impacts at sufficient speed or angle, and innovations in vehicular safety design, such as the use of plastics and crumple zones, reduce the severity of such accidents.
According to the American Automobile Association, driver error is a significant cause of fatal accidents. It's also important to mention that the dense traffic often found in residential areas can contribute to the higher accident rates there. Environmental changes and human activity can influence where and how these accidents happen.