Collisions are an unfortunate (and often preventable) part of the driving experience. In 2018, there were 6,734,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes in the US. While traffic fatalities have declined in recent years, there were still almost 38,000 traffic fatalities in 2019.
According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas had the most fatal collisions in 2019, with 3,615 fatal crashes. California was right behind them with 3,606 fatal crashes, and Florida had the third-highest number of fatal crashes that year with 3,183.
As we mentioned, the number of collisions in the US has been on the decline for the last few years. Hopefully you will not experience a collision, but just in case, here are some tips on how to protect yourself during a collision:
- Always wear your safety belt and make sure your passengers wear theirs. They allow you and your car to slow down together, reducing the possibility you’ll be propelled forward into the dash or windshield.
- Make sure to adjust your headrest to the proper height. When you’re rear-ended, the car accelerates forward, and the back of the seat pushes into your torso, which will cause your head to snap back, giving you whiplash. A good head restraint can help reduce whiplash.
- Try not to panic. Reacting properly and quickly can help you avoid collisions, or at least minimize damage.
- If you have to, drive off the road to avoid a collision. Look for something soft to hit, such as shrubs or brush, rather than something hard, like a wall. If you have to hit anything, try to make it a sideswipe rather than head-on.
- When hit from the side, everything in the vehicle that is not fastened down, including the passengers, will slide towards the point of crash, not away from it. When worn properly, your safety belt will keep you in place and behind the wheel. The airbag might not inflate. Firmly grab the steering wheel to help keep you from being thrown into the side of the car.
Collisions can be a traumatic experience, but they’re also survivable, especially if you develop good defensive driving instincts.Taking an online defensive driving course or an insurance discount course is a great defense against collisions! Click here to visit our website to see the online courses we offer in your state!