The goal of any driver is to avoid collisions and injuries. Good drivers understand how to use accelerating, braking, and steering to help them achieve this goal.
How Can You Use Speed Control to Avoid a Collision?
Braking is a natural reaction to avoid a collision. However, it is not always the correct evasive action.
- Accelerating
Speeding up may sometimes be your only means of reducing risk. Such situations occur most often at intersections or in merging traffic.
- Braking
In some situations, steering to the side or accelerating may not be possible. At speeds under 25 mph it takes less time and distance to stop than to steer into another lane. When braking you want to stop fast without making the wheels lock, or stop turning. Locking the wheels reduces traction and increases stopping distance. To brake quickly use the threshold/squeeze braking method. With this method, keep the heel on the floor and your foot on the brake. “Squeeze” the pedal down with a steady, firm pressure until just before the brakes lock. If they lock ease up on the brake pedal and immediately squeeze down again, but not as firmly.
The antilock brake system (ABS) is equipment that eliminates the problem of locked brakes. Anti Lock brakes permit maximum brake pressure while retaining steering control.
How Can Knowledge of Natural Laws Help You to Avoid a Collision?
A knowledge of natural laws is vital to car control. Knowing how natural laws work is also important when making evasive maneuvers.
- Steering to Avoid a Collision
- Turn the steering wheel just enough to get to the shoulder.
- Immediately turn it back about twice the amount you turned it to the right.
- Turn the wheel right to bring the car back into its original path.
- Controlled Off-Road Recovery
Tires rolling on different surfaces have different amounts of grip. The tires on the paved area have more traction than those on the unpaved area. Applying the brakes may cause the car to skid. Turning the wheel sharply could cause your car to skid, flip over, or shoot back across the roadway. Do this:
- Let the car move right until the wheels on the shoulder are about 12 to 18 inches from the road edge.
- Look for a spot where the edge appears to be no more than 2 inches higher than the shoulder.
- Check for oncoming and following traffic. Signal your intentions to return to the roadway.
- Move the steering wheel a slight turn to the left. As soon as you feel the right front tire contact the road edge, steer back to the right about half a turn.
- Immediately turn the steering wheel straight ahead. Do this without braking or accelerating.
This maneuver is called “Controlled Off Road Recovery.”
How Can You Minimize the Risk and Consequences of a Collision?
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to avoid a collision.
By knowing what to do before a collision happens and understanding the factors that contribute to the force of impact of a collision will help to minimize its effects.
- Force of Impact
The force with which a moving car hits another object is called the force of impact. Three factors affect the force of impact.
- Speed of the car
The force of impact is much greater at higher speeds.
- Weight of the car
The heavier a car is the harder it will hit any other object.
- Impact distance
The force of impact depends on the distance a moving vehicle travels between first impact with an object and the point where the vehicle comes to a complete stop. When a car hits an unmoving solid object, the impact distance is short. The shorter the impact distance the greater the damage.
- Reducing the Force of Impact
You reduce the force of impact if you increase the impact distance. The following energy absorbing features help increase impact distance.
- Sand Canisters
The sand helps reduce the car’s force of impact. The car would slow more gradually than if it hit the concrete barrier.
- Car Features
Features in new cars that help increase impact distance by absorbing energy include air bags, crumple zones, automatic safety belts, head restraints, energy absorbing bumpers, steering columns and wheels, padded dashboards, safety glass windshields and reinforced sides.
- If a collision is Unavoidable
If you can increase the impact distance, you will lessen the force of impact, which in turn will reduce the risk of serious damage or injury.
- Head-On
A head-on collision with another vehicle or an immovable object is the worst type of collision. If you can reduce your speed, the force of impact will be less. Driving into something that is movable will also reduce the force of impact.
- Side
You can accelerate to make impact behind the passenger compartment or with the rear end of your car this will help minimize damage or injury.