One moment you’re enjoying your car ride, and the next moment you’re being pushed forward with your face hitting the air bag after hitting the vehicle in front of you. Car accidents happen in fractions of a second and can cause lasting emotional and physical damage.
While there is no formula to 100% avoid all car accidents, there are some tips we can follow to reduce your chances.
Here’s a list of the three most common types of car accidents and the steps you can take to prevent them.
1. Rear-end collisions
What are they?
Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of accidents that occur in Australia. These accidents occur when a parked vehicle is hit by another car moving at high speed.
Its severity can be different depending on the collision speed of the vehicle and it can cause lasting damage to the passenger and driver in both cars. Common causes of these accidents are vehicle tracking, inattentive driving, panic stops, mechanical failure, etc.
How can these accidents be avoided?
These are some of the easiest accidents to avoid. Here are some tips you can follow to avoid such accidents:
- Keep your distance while driving
- Drive strategically depending on the situation.
- Keep your focus while driving
- Don’t drive under the influence
When driving, you should keep a distance of about 2 meters from the car in front of you. This is especially necessary for severe weather conditions when cars stop abruptly due to lack of visibility, pedestrian crossing, speed braking, etc.
Sometimes there are situations, especially in traffic jams, in which you have to make sudden stops; in such cases, make sure your speed is within limits so that even if you have to make abrupt stops, the vehicle in the rear can be ready.
Driving is a high-risk activity; therefore, it is essential to give your full attention to the task at hand and keep your eyes on the road. Also, the driver should avoid activities such as calling, texting, or eating while on the road.
Whether you’re sleepy, have taken certain medications, or drank too much alcohol, in these cases, it’s best to call a taxi and avoid driving altogether.
2. Damage to parked vehicles
What are they?
Parked car damage is one of those accidents that occurs when another car hits a parked vehicle. Surprisingly, this damage is not caused by the negligence of the owner of the parked car, but it can result in expensive repairs.
How can these accidents be avoided?
So whether you leave your car in a parking lot or on the road, here are some guidelines you can use to save your car from this type of accident.
- Park in a strategic place
- Park right between the parking lines
- If you have a garage, park it there.
Choose a parking spot that is away from heavy traffic. Instead of choosing a busy space to park your car, try to locate an area away from the hustle and bustle and park your car there. Pro Tip: Avoid parking near intersections, driveways, or sharp turns.
This will give your vehicle a cushion on both sides and reduce the chances of being hit by another car while parking.
The safest place in your facility may be your garage; it is away from the main street and is secured by a gate to prevent this type of accident.
3. Individual Vehicle Accidents
What are they?
Single vehicle accidents are accidents in which only one vehicle is involved. Some examples might be vehicles running off the road, hitting a stationary object like a pole or guardrail, or rolling over.
How can these accidents be avoided?
These accidents are mainly due to loss of control when accelerating and can therefore be easily avoided by following these tips:
- Drive right according to time
- Always focus on the road
- Driver under the speed limit
Different climates can make driving more risk-prone. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that your vehicle is well equipped to deal with them. So make sure you have the right tires for the road, that your vehicle is well maintained, that you have working windshield wipers, etc.
Just because you’re driving down an empty road doesn’t mean you can be distracted by your phone. A driver must have their full attention on the road to avoid sudden changes.
Speeding has been linked to a third of all fatal motor vehicle accidents. So even if no one is around, driving below the speed limit can save many lives.
Although it is true that sometimes, no matter how cautious we are, accidents can still happen. But if you keep in mind the tips mentioned above, you will be able to be more aware of your shortcomings, which will help you develop a better driving style. Therefore, it reduces the chances of traffic accidents in the future.