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Last updated: November 18, 2024

How to Avoid Common Car Accident Scenarios

Crashes happen, but there are steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

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In 2023, an estimated 40,990 people were killed in car accidents,1 and many more were injured, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The majority of collisions involved two or more cars, but about 20 percent were with a fixed object.2

Though driving comes with inherent risk, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and others. Below, we’ll cover some common accident scenarios and how to avoid them. With the right attitude and skills, you can keep yourself and others safe while out on the road.

Common Collision Types

Here are six of the most common types of road collision, as well as how to protect yourself in each scenario.

Parked-Car Accidents

A frustrating-yet-common scenario is returning to your vehicle in a parking lot, only to find it has been damaged by another driver. But there are steps you can take to protect your vehicle even when you’re not in the driver’s seat, as well as others’ vehicles if you are driving.

  • Choose a quiet area of the lot. If possible, find a less-occupied part of the lot. Park as far as possible from other vehicles. Avoid intersections and driveways if you’re parking on the street, or else your car may get hit by passing traffic. In cities, try to park in the middle of the block rather than at the corner.
  • Park in the center of the spot. Save your vehicle from swinging doors by positioning your vehicle in the center of the spot. Readjust your parking if needed.
  • Use a garage, if possible. Parking in a garage can give your car more protection from other vehicles than parking on the street or in a lot.
  • Be careful when you’re backing out. Not all parking-lot collisions happen when your vehicle is stopped; another common cause is getting hit by another driver while you’re backing out of a parking space. Check over your shoulder in both directions, and exit the parking spot slowly to minimize your chance of collision.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions occur when one vehicle crashes into the back of another. They are common, accounting for 40 percent of all collisions in the U.S. in 2022.2  These types of accidents are most often caused by excessive speed or distracted driving. Here are some ways to help you avoid rear-end collisions:

  • Maintain a safe distance. Keep a safe stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Stopping distance increases with your speed; if you’re traveling at 20 mph (32 km/h), 40 feet (12 meters) is the recommended stopping distance. Cars traveling at 70 mph (113 km/h) should maintain a stopping distance of 315 feet (96 m), or about 24 car lengths. Maintaining a safe stopping distance will help prevent a collision if the car in front brakes suddenly.

THREE-SECOND RULE

Keep at least three seconds’ worth of distance between you and the car in front of you. Here’s how it works. Choose a fixed point, like a tree or a sign, and count out three seconds. If you pass the fixed point before reaching three seconds, slow down to allow more follow distance. In poor conditions, increase your distance to six seconds.

  • Avoid distractions. Distracted driving includes using your phone while driving, reading, eating, or doing anything else that takes your attention off the road. It can also mean driving while drowsy. Many rear-end collisions happen when drivers are focusing on something else, only to look up and realize the car in front of them has stopped. In this situation, it’s impossible to break fast enough to avoid a crash.
  • Follow the speed limits. Exceeding the speed limit makes it more likely that you’ll be tailgating other drivers and will not give you enough time to break and prevent a rear-end collision.

Crashes at Intersections

Intersections can pose challenges because there are many things to keep track of. Turning traffic, cyclists and pedestrians all come together at intersections. It’s important to stay especially alert and follow these best practices to stay safe:

  • Stay in your lane. Attempting to change lanes at intersections can lead to collisions. If you find yourself in the wrong lane, safely pass through the intersection with the flow of traffic, and then reroute as needed.
  • Come to a full stop. It can be tempting to cruise through, especially in a residential neighborhood. But always make a full stop at a stop sign so you can look for traffic, pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers.
  • Be aware of traffic signals. As a driver, it is your legal responsibility to adhere to traffic signals, including stoplights and stop signs. Use your turn signals to let other drivers know your route, and anticipate what other drivers will do based on their signals.
  • Accelerate slowly. When you’re moving through the intersection into traffic, accelerate slowly so you can safely come to a stop if needed.

Collisions with Oversize Vehicles

Be aware that large vehicles, such as buses and trucks, have limitations, including longer stopping distances and blind spots. Drivers should take extra care when they encounter buses or commercial vehicles. You can take these steps when sharing the road with a large vehicle:

  • Avoid blind spots. If you can’t see the driver in their side mirror, assume you are not visible to the driver. Trucks and other large vehicles have significant blind spots around the front, back and sides of the vehicle. Either move ahead of the truck or stay well behind it.
  • Pass cautiously. Before you pass a truck, make sure the driver is visible in their rearview mirror, and use your turn signal. Move through the blind spot as quickly as possible while adhering to the speed limit.
  • Merge carefully. Take extra care when you’re merging with trucks on the freeway. Avoid merging into blind spots.
  • Don’t cut off large vehicles. Cutting it close when passing or merging is dangerous in any situation, but it’s especially risky with large vehicles because of the longer stopping distance. If you cut off a large vehicle, it may not be able to stop in time to avoid a crash.
  • Watch out for wide turns. Because of their size, buses and trucks may encroach on the middle lane when making a turn, or even begin turning while in the middle lane. Give them extra space when you are making a turn. Don’t try to pass by them.
  • Be patient. Driving a truck comes with challenges. Stay patient. Aggressive driving will just lead to unnecessary risk.

Accidents with Impaired or Negligent Drivers

You may witness other drivers behaving irresponsibly or recklessly on the road. It can be upsetting and frustrating to see other drivers put themselves and others at risk. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

  • Keep your distance. If you see someone driving erratically or unpredictably, stay away. This includes slow drivers; if you encounter someone driving dangerously slow, don’t tailgate, as this will increase your chances of a collision. Instead, pass them when it is safe to do so. If you encounter a driver who is speeding or driving erratically, let them drive ahead of you. It’s often safer to increase the distance between your vehicle and theirs rather than try to overtake or stay close to them.
  • Avoid late-night driving. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you have the highest chance of being involved in a DUI crash between midnight and 3 a.m. If possible, stay off the roads at this time to lessen your chances of encountering a drunk driver.
  • Exercise caution over the holidays. Be especially cautious when you’re driving during holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, when people may be traveling and drinking more than usual.

Never operate a vehicle if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over the legal limit. The limit is 0.08 in every state except Utah, where it is 0.05. Most states have zero tolerance laws for drivers under age 21, which lower the limit to between 0.00 and 0.02. The number of drinks it takes someone to reach a BAC of 0.08 depends on several factors, including the person’s sex and weight. Be sure to designate a sober driver, or use a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft. Learn more about rates of drunk driving in the U.S.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Single-vehicle accidents may happen when someone hits road debris or animals, or drives off the road. Take these steps to help prevent these kinds of accidents:

  • Stay alert. Being aware of your surroundings can help you anticipate potential collisions. Watch for signs of animals on the road, which can be an issue in both rural and urban areas. Also, keep an eye out for road debris or vehicles that might drop objects.
  • Adjust for weather. Weather conditions such as ice, snow and rain increase your stopping time. Adjust your speed to prevent skidding, and increase the distance between your vehicle and others in adverse weather.

Other Tips for Staying Safe on the Road

Regardless of where you’re driving, there are some best practices you can follow to help avoid the most common car crash scenarios.

  • Gain supervised driving experience. If you’re a teen driver, a new adult driver or someone who has not driven in a long time, drive with a trusted friend or family member to gain confidence and build good driving habits. Professional driving lessons can be helpful for both teen and new adult drivers.
  • Keep your vehicle clean and distraction-free. Keeping a tidy vehicle that doesn’t provide any distractions will help keep your focus on the road. Secure loose items to prevent them from shifting or rolling, and remove clutter that might divert your attention.
  • Limit your number of passengers. More passengers come with more potential for distractions in your vehicle. Try not to drive with too many people in your car, especially if you’re a young or inexperienced driver.
  • Take breaks on long road trips. Driving for many hours at a time significantly increases your chances of driving while drowsy. Take breaks every two hours, and pull over to sleep.
  • Buckle up. Using a seat belt is one of the most important things you can do to stay safer on the road. In the event of a crash, your seat belt will work alongside other safety features in your car, like the airbag, to help prevent and minimize injury.
  • Develop a responsible attitude. This includes adhering to speed limits and traffic laws, never being intoxicated or distracted while driving, and keeping safe distances between you and other traffic. Look out for others, and speak up if you see someone driving dangerously. The more you practice safe driving habits, the more they will become second nature.

Recap

Collisions may involve parked cars, intersections, negligent or impaired drivers, and other factors. No matter the type of crash, however, staying alert and aware of your surroundings, obeying all traffic laws, driving defensively, and keeping a safe and calm attitude will help keep you and other drivers safe on the road. We’ve also compiled a list of defensive driving courses by state.

If you do end up in an accident, the right auto insurance can protect you against the high costs of vehicle repairs and medical bills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you prevent an accident?

There are several simple steps you can take to minimize your chances of getting into an accident. These include being aware of your surroundings, avoiding late-night driving, limiting the number of passengers, and never driving while drowsy or distracted.

What are three scenarios for how a collision can occur?

Three common ways a collision occurs are if the car in front of you stops suddenly (resulting in a rear-end collision), a driver runs a red light at an intersection, or someone suddenly changes lanes in an unsafe way.

What is the most common car accident?

According to the National Safety Council, the most common type of accident with two vehicles involved is a rear-end collision. The second most common type of car accident is an angle collision, which includes merging.3

What is the first step in avoiding an accident?

One of the most important steps you can take to avoid an accident is to be aware of your surroundings. This includes paying attention to other drivers, the posted legal speed limit, and weather conditions. Keeping yourself engaged and alert at all times will go a long way in protecting you from car accidents.

Kate Romain Bio Pic
Written by:Kate Romain
Staff Writer
Kate Romain combines her dedication to research with her love for writing and communications to deliver informative, comprehensive articles for those exploring insurance options. Her years of professional experience in writing and communications have well-equipped her to assist customers get the information they need to make smart insurance choices. Kate has also written for GigWolf, Boston Medical Center, and non-profit Writers Without Margins. She holds a BA in History and Politics and an MA in Creative Writing, both from the University of East Anglia.

Citations

  1. Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2023. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2024, Apr).
    https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813561

  2. Time of Day and Demographic Perspective Of Fatal Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Crashes. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2011, Aug).
    https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/811523.pdf

  3. Type of Crash. National Safety Council. (2024).
    https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/type-of-crash/