A number of factors cause traffic collisions in Houston and the rest of Harris County, including the following: Speeding is a common cause of a traffic crash because it interferes with the driver’s ability to stop in an emergency.  Distractions such as texting, eating, or talking to a passenger remove the driver’s attention from the road ahead instead of concentrating on the road. Changing lanes without signaling or checking for traffic coming alongside is another common cause of traffic crashes. Running a stop sign or red light is a common cause of intersection accidents involving multiple vehicles. Tailgating can lead to severe collisions at intersections and highways when traffic slows down or stops. Drunk or drugged driving is a significant cause of accidents because the driver has slowed reflexes, lacks judgment, and can have impaired vision.