California Collision Facts to Help Keep Drivers Safe
October 29th, 2015 by Eli P
Nobody wants to be in an auto collision in California, but they do happen – even to careful drivers. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to reduce your chances of being involved in a collision, starting with understanding what causes them in the first place. According to the California Highway Patrol, the top five causes of auto collisions in California include:
1. Distracted driving. Surprisingly, distracted drivers cause more collisions in the state of California traffic that any other factor. Distracted driving includes everything from texting on your cell phone to reading, personal grooming, and disciplining children in the back seat.
2. Speeding. No surprise here. Everyone is in a hurry these days, but the faster you drive, the more it increases the risk of collisions.
3. Aggressive driving. This category includes tailgating, cutting off other drivers, changing lanes abruptly, and even yelling or gesturing at other drivers. Aggressive driving is unnecessary, and it puts you and other drivers at risk.
4. Driving under the influence. Whether the influence is a result of drugs, alcohol or prescription medications, driving while impaired significantly increases the chances of a collision.
5. Fatigue. When you’re tired, it can cause you to react more slowly and make poor decisions. Although #5 overall, fatigue is the leading cause of accidents involving trucks.
Basic Safety Guidelines
You can’t always avoid a collision. But you can take steps to protect yourself if you get involved in one.
- Wear your seat belts. Collision safety starts with wearing your seat belt all the time – even if you’re just driving to the corner store a few blocks from home. Research shows that seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half.
- Obey speed limits. Just because everyone else is in a hurry to get there doesn’t mean you have to be. Driving slower reduces the chances of a collision and the severity of injuries if you happen to get in one.
- Don’t drink or text while driving. The dangers of drunk driving are well known, and texting is one of the worst forms of distracted driving . If you’ve had a couple of drinks, hand the keys to someone who hasn’t. And that text message beeping on your cell phone can wait until you reach your destination.
How To Handle Potential Collision Situations
Even if you drive safely, things can happen beyond your control. To reduce your odds of getting involved in a collision, the California Online Traffic School recommends the following safety measures.
- Tire blowout. Experiencing a flat tire at high speeds can cause you to lose control of the car. The first reaction for most drivers is to slam on the brakes, however this may cause even more loss of control. Instead, firmly grasp the steering wheel, take your foot off the gas, and brake cautiously to reduce speed. Once you have the car under control, move safely over to the shoulder before coming to a full stop.
- Brake failure. Few things are worse than being unable to stop your car because the brakes have failed. First, try pumping the breaks with moderate pressure, as this may get the brake fluid flowing again in case of a clog. If your car has anti-lock brakes, pumping will not work. Instead, fully compressing the brake pedal to the floor will cause the brake pads to automatically pulsate and hopefully break up the clog.
If the brakes still don’t work, trying downshifting to a lower gear and gradually applying the parking brake. In true emergencies, such as going downhill and picking up speed, you may need to shift into reverse and/or deliberately sideswipe stationary objects to reduce speed. This will cause damage to your car and other objects, but it may save your life.
- Oncoming car in your lane. Head-on collisions have the highest fatality rates < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-on_collision>, and California has many city roads and highways with only one lane in each direction. If you notice a car coming at you in the wrong side of the road, take immediate action by slowing down and pulling to the extreme right or driving completely off the road. It may also help to flash your headlights and sound the horn. You may still end up in a sideswipe or a rear-end collision, but these are typically far less dangerous than a head-on collision.
- Unexpected breakdowns. If your car stalls or stops operating, pull over to the side of the road and immediately turn on your hazard lights. Stay in the car with your seatbelts fastened, call for help, and wait until assistance comes. Walking around looking for assistance increases your risk, especially at night and on the side of busy freeways.
- Hydroplaning. When it rains, the thin film of water that covers the road’s surface can cause your wheels to lose traction. This frequently happens in California when it rains hard after a long period of dryness. The driver’s first instinct is usually to brake hard or immediately turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the skid. However, this will cause even more loss of control, and could put the car in a dangerous spin. Instead, gradually take your foot off the accelerator to slow down the car and regain traction. The best way to prevent hydroplaning is to drive slower than usual during heavy rains and avoid sudden turns.
Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions can cause severe damage to your car and the people inside it. To avoid these collisions and minimize the damage:
- In traffic, look several cars ahead of you to avoid sudden stops
- Frequently check your mirrors for traffic behind you
- Don’t rush up to stop signs or traffic lights
- As you come to a stop, leave plenty of space between your car and the vehicle in front of you
- Regularly check your brake lights to make sure they are working
- When someone is tailgating you, don’t brake hard to make them back off
