A car accident is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a person during his life. This guide is published in the hope that it will help readers avoid injury or, worse, death. It must be immediately emphasized that every vehicle is different, and most of the information contained here (for example on airbags) is not valid for those who drive cars from the 1990s or even older. The methods of avoiding an accident, and the position that everyone should adopt in the event of a collision, however, are universal.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting Ready
Step 1. Fasten your seat belt
Having your seat belt fastened is one of the most important things you can do to survive an accident. Make sure it is placed on the bones of your hips and that the shoulder passes through the center of your chest. Children should be placed in child seats until they have grown enough to be seated.
Step 2. Drive a safe car, equipped with seat belts and other options
You won't have to worry about headrests, unless you're driving a really old car, from the 1980s or even older. Older cars, which generally only have belts that only go around the waist and almost certainly lack any other safety measures, are usually less safe than larger vehicles. SUVs are more prone to rollovers than other vehicles. Try to drive the safest car that meets your needs and is within your budget. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in America carries out numerous crash tests and lists safe vehicles of different styles and sizes. In Europe, the Euro NCAP system is used to express this type of information. Consult the website
Step 3. Store items in such a way that they cannot hit you in the event of an impact
If an object can become a bullet during a crash, remove it from the car or put it in the trunk or, in the case of a minivan, in the compartment behind the seat.
Step 4. Make sure safety devices are serviced regularly
Airbags and seat belts significantly reduce the risk of injury and death in road accidents.
Step 5. Don't lean on the dashboard
In the event of a crash at high speed, the airbags inflate. They've saved lives, but they swell so fast that if you lean against the dashboard, when they swell you'll be thrown back and hurt yourself. If your car is equipped with curtain airbags (also called side airbags), it is just as dangerous to lean against the sides of the vehicle's cabin.
Step 6. Make sure the engine, brakes, transmission, suspension and tires are in good condition
The safest accident is the one that doesn't happen to you; having your car in perfect condition can help you avoid an accident or minimize damage should it happen.
Part 2 of 3: Drive Safely
Step 1. Don't rely too much on security features
Features such as the autonomous braking system, reversing cameras and blind spot assistance are just a supplement to safe driving. These features could easily deactivate or malfunction in the event of an imminent impact, or activate when not needed. Relying on such systems alone could lead to serious accidents.
Step 2. Comply with road traffic regulations and understand the current conditions in which you are driving
Modify your driving if you find yourself in heavy traffic or bad weather conditions. Going 100 km / h can be safe when the asphalt is dry, but if it starts to rain, with wet asphalt and oil on the ground, it is probably safer to reduce the speed.
Step 3. Focus on what you are doing
While driving, avoid using your cell phone, looking at maps, eating, or doing other distracting activities. If you are a passenger, remain seated with the seat belts fastened. Do not lower the seat too much, do not put your feet on the dashboard and above all do not distract the driver. Do not place objects on top of the airbag compartment.
Step 4. Try to read potential problems in advance
Watch the road, looking out for those things that can end up causing an accident.
- Look forward to see if there may be any cars or pedestrians that could stand in your way.
- Keep a safe distance from other vehicles (following "rule two"): this allows you to have adequate reaction time when a vehicle in front of you makes an unexpected maneuver.
- Stay away from distracted drivers (such as those who are shaving their beards on their way to work), those who are too clinging to the vehicle in front and other drivers with risky behavior.
- Check out the parked cars. They may come out of the parking lot right in front of you; they might get out of that place or fix the car without paying too much attention.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid or Minimize an Accident
Step 1. Stay calm
If you feel like an accident is about to happen, you need to respond quickly but in control. Vehicles of all types respond best to smooth steering and gentle braking.
Step 2. Choose how to act
You have to decide which combination of steering, braking and accelerating would work best to avoid or minimize the damage resulting from the accident.
Step 3. Brake in a controlled manner
Braking modes vary depending on whether your vehicle has anti-lock braking devices.
- No anti-lock brakes: If your car has no anti-lock brakes, you need to apply the brakes smoothly to keep the car in check. If you brake hard, your car will start skidding and skidding and you will lose control. You cannot steer when the brakes are locked. Press firmly, then release. If you notice the car starting to skid, release the brakes before turning.
- Anti-lock brakes: do not activate the anti-lock system. Your car's ABS computer will do this faster than you (you will feel the pedal vibrate a little when this happens). Keep your foot firmly on the brake and then steer normally.
Step 4. Steer smoothly
Steering too hard, especially if done with heavy vehicles or with a light rear end (such as pickups) can likely lead to skidding.
Step 5. Accelerate if necessary
While it sounds like a contradiction, the best way to avoid an accident is sometimes to speed up and get away from danger.
Step 6. Follow these steps to regain control of the car if you start to skid or lose control
If the car starts to skid or skid, follow these steps.
- Don't touch the brakes. It will only make things worse.
- Hold the steering wheel firmly.
- Steer in the direction of the skid. If the rear of the car is skidding to the driver's left, turn left.
- Wait for the wheels to regain the necessary grip before braking or pressing the accelerator.
Step 7. Try to minimize damage if a fight seems inevitable
- Avoid head-on collisions with other vehicles or with fixed objects such as large trees or concrete barriers.
- Do whatever you can to control the speed of the car. The faster the impact speed, the greater the damage.
- Avoid side impacts. There can be serious consequences if a car collides with you on the side, where the bodywork is more delicate and is the closest point to the driver.
Step 8. After the accident, turn off the engine, do not smoke, and stop everyone else who wants or is about to smoke
This is very important if one of the vehicles involved was transporting dangerous goods (for example flammable material such as kerosene or aerosol, or explosive material), since in this type of accident it is important to prevent explosions or fires: machines can explode or catch fire. after the fighting, if a vehicle carrying dangerous goods was involved in the accident.
Step 9. Call emergency services after the incident
Call the ambulance if necessary. Do not try to pull injured people out of vehicles. Explosions are very unlikely, and you could do serious harm if the person has suffered a trauma to the neck or spine, even if they feel they are fine and not injured. Let the emergency services remove the injured person from the car.
Advice
- Keep calm and above all remain silent. You will likely be disoriented and confused after a serious accident, even if you think you are not injured. Many people will come to the scene of the accident and ask you "What happened?". You don't have to talk to anyone about what you think caused the accident. Above all, avoid saying anything that could put the blame on you, like "I'm sorry" or "I think I was going too fast" etc. These comments could cost you thousands of dollars.
- If you are not the one who was driving, in most cases (if not all) the safest place is the rear one in the center (with the seat belt fastened of course). If the car crashes, and you are in the center seat without a seat belt, the impact could throw you out of the vehicle, with fatal consequences.
- If you are buying a new vehicle, be sure to take a look at the standard and additional safety features, such as the location and number of airbags in the passenger compartment. Learn about crash test results, and consider installing monitoring systems, which can inform emergency response services in the event of an accident.
- Use your mobile phone to take pictures of the crash site.
- If you have a cell phone, make any calls you need to make either inside the vehicle if you can, or away from the ears of possible witnesses. Again, don't try to explain to anyone over the phone what happened, eg. to the tow truck driver. You just say there was an accident.
- Make sure you exchange information with other people involved in the incident and get information from eyewitnesses.
- Write down a list of things to do in case of an accident and keep it in a compartment in the dashboard. Read it and follow the instructions you wrote down.
