Rear-end collisions area common type of automobile accident. Unexpected things can happen on the road, but there are a few things you can do to minimize your chances of being involved in a rear-end collision.
1. Avoid Conditions That Require Sudden Braking
Most rear-end collisions happen when the driver in front has to come to an abrupt stop. One of the best ways to avoid a rear-end condition is to avoid driving conditions that may require sudden stops as much as possible. You should only drive in adverse weather or on overcrowded roads when it is absolutely necessary.
2. Invest in Collision Prevention Features
Many newer vehicles come standard with collision prevention features. Examples include backup cameras and rear parking sensors that can automatically engage your brakes when an obstacle is detected behind the vehicle.
If you're driving an older vehicle, you don't have to go without collision protection. Add-on kits with backup cameras and sensors are available on the market for most vehicles that can alert you to dangers you would otherwise miss.
3. Maintain a Safe Following Distance
You can't always control how closely you are being followed, but you can control the amount of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Leaving a 3-second gap between your vehicle and the vehicle you're following is one of the fundamental aspects of defensive driving. This is approximately 16 car lengths or 243 feet, and will give you ample time to react to a sudden change in front of you and stop your vehicle.
4. Check Your Mirrors Frequently
Many drivers don't check their mirrors as often as they should, but your mirrors are your most important tool for staying aware of your surroundings. A study from the University of Texas at Dallas has found that glancing at your mirrors
every five seconds
is the safest way to keep track of vehicles behind you without losing focus on the road ahead.
5. Check Your Brake Lights and Turn Signals Before Driving
Many collisions occur when one driver isn't able to anticipate the actions of another. Staying predictable on the road is essential to ensure that other drivers will react in a way that is safe for you and your passengers.
Your brake lights and turn signals are your most important way of communicating with drivers behind you. Checking that both are working before you drive will prevent you from changing lanes or slowing down unsafely when you think you are giving notice to other drivers.
6. Be Wary of Other Vehicles' Blind Spots
Even with proper mirror adjustment, most vehicles will have a blind spot slightly behind and to the side of the rear bumper. This is one of the reasons that checking your mirrors so often is important: if a vehicle was in your mirrors moments ago but suddenly disappears, it may well be in your blind spot. Adjust your mirrors before you drive so that your rear window is framed in the rear-view mirror, and about half of your vehicle is visible in the side-view mirrors.
When you are driving in another driver's blind spot, or someone is in your blind spot, rear-end collisions are most likely to occur when changing lanes. Without being aware of a vehicle in your blind spot, you can easily turn into a new lane without enough space between yourself and the other vehicle.
It's impossible to avoid collisions 100 percent of the time, but taking precautions against rear-end collisions will help keep you safer from one of the most common types. Keep these safe driving tips in mind, and visit
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