Avoiding a Rear-End Crash
Rear-end collisions happen all the time, especially when traffic is heavy or during peak travel periods. Often, this type of accident happens because the person in the rear is not paying attention. She or he does not realize that the person in front has stopped and the rear driver bumps into the other vehicle. However, there are other factors that may lead to a rear-end collision.
Automotive Fleet explains that if you want to safeguard yourself from causing a rear-end collision, there are some things you can do. It is not always about being a better driver, but the first word of advice is to always make sure you follow at a safe distance. You need to allow time between you and the other vehicle to allow you to stop if the other car suddenly stops. You may need to increase the distance in bad weather, at night or when traveling at higher speeds because all of these situations require more stopping distance. Beyond that, though, there are a couple of other things you can do.
Have an out
Always have an out planned when you are in traffic. What this means is that you have a plan for what you will do if a collision seems imminent. In the case of a rear-end collision, this simply means having a plan to steer away from the vehicle in front of you to some safe area on the side of the road. Of course, this means knowing what is happening all around you so that you do not cause another accident when trying to avoid this one. You should try to always maintain a position on the road where you have a potential out at all times.
Keep up with maintenance
Some rear-end collisions have nothing to do with driver error and are the cause of a mechanical issue. If your brakes are going bad or you have other issues with your vehicle that would impact its ability to stop or your ability to control it, then you are at risk of causing a rear-end collision. Make sure you do routine maintenance and always fix brake problems the minute you know something is wrong.
