Avoid Head-On Collisions by Driving Defensively

The extent of injury involved in head-on collisions makes them one of the deadliest types of car crashes to be involved in.

Every year, over 5,000 people die due to the injuries sustained from a head-on collision. If you recently lost a loved one in this type of tragic accident, consult with a St. Louis car accident attorney about your rights as a surviving family member. What contributes to the high incidence of fatalities with head-on collisions is the speed that is usually involved. Slow moving vehicles are more likely to have the time and space needed to move out of the way of an oncoming car, but when traveling at highway speeds and suddenly facing the front end of another vehicle, there is no time to escape impact.

The Four R’s of the National Safety Council

When it comes to a head-on collision, your best chance of survival is to drive defensively in order to avoid one. The National Safety Council has compiled the four R’s needed to avoid being the victim of such a crash:

• Read the road – Always be alert to what is happening on the road around you. Do not engage in distracted driving, driving under the influence, or when exhausted.
• Right of way – Drive slightly to the right of the lane you are in so that passing cars have enough room to get by without colliding with yours.
• Reduce your speed – The severity of injury drastically increases the faster you are driving. Always drive at a speed that allows you plenty of time to react in the event of an oncoming car emergency.
• Ride off the road – If you are facing an oncoming car, your best course of action is to ride off of the road. The force of impact is less when you hit a stationary object, such as a guardrail, then when two moving vehicles collide.

Drunk Driving and Head-On Collisions

A large number of head-on collisions are caused by drunk drivers. These typically occur at night, when an impaired motorist drifts across lanes of traffic into oncoming traffic. This is attributed to a drunk driver’s impaired sense of judgment and a natural inclination to head towards lights when driving at night, making your headlights attractive to a drunk driver. The best way to avoid being the victim of this type of driving accident is to avoid driving at night, especially Friday and Saturdays after midnight.

The types of injuries sustained from a head-on collision can be life-threatening and oftentimes fatal. The force of the impact may cause traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones, and internal organ damage.