Even if you are the most conscientious of drivers, you may end up in the wrong place at the wrong moment and find yourself involved in a car crash. Life is unpredictable in this sense. You may have time to react, avoid crash impact to some extent, and limit the damage.
How you react in the few seconds preceding impact may save your life or reduce the severity of the crash. Consider some of the following tips for what you can do to survive a car crash before, during and after the fact.
Safety Before a Car Crash
Ideally, you want to avoid car accidents all together, but even the safest of drivers may just be unlucky due to the weather, environmental conditions, or bad drivers. By following these tips, you’ll be in a better position in the event of a crash.
1. Wear Your Seatbelt
Car crash fatalities measure in the thousands annually. Your seatbelt could save your life. Seatbelts are known to reduce deaths and serious injury in the event of an accident. Wearing a seatbelt can reduce mortality rates by approximately 50%.
While you will be unable to control much during a crash, this simple action before getting on the road can reduce danger. Seatbelts should be positioned across the low hip bone with the shoulder belt placed across the chest center. Place small children securely in car seats.
2. Store Objects and Personal Property Securely
During an accident, anything that is not securely stored can behave as a projectile. This includes your cell phone, laptop, a purse or overnight bag, groceries, or sporting equipment. At a high velocity, anything, even a can of beans, can turn fatal.
Consider placing potential loose objects in the car trunk, behind seat wells, or in a covered storage bin or area. Remember that unsecured pets can also become projectiles, as well as passengers without seatbelts.
3. Select a Safe Car When Purchasing Your Auto
While budget is a concern for everyone, you need to purchase the safest auto you can afford. Look for the newest safety technology such as automatic brakes or warning systems for lane departure. When evaluating a new car or a used vehicle, check into crash test ratings. Also look at standard safety features as well as options that can be added like extra airbags.
4. Carry a First Aid Kit and Auto Survival Kit
Glass breakers and seatbelt cutters should be stored in your car in a handy place that you can reach if blocked in your seat. You should be able to cut your seatbelt to free yourself or to break a car window to escape if doors are blocked. Keep a first aid kit somewhere in the car in case of necessity.
Safety During a Car Crash
If you don’t see an accident coming, there’s little you can do, but if you do have a few seconds, there are a few things to keep in mind to reduce crash severity.
5. Slow Your Speed Down
The faster your vehicle is traveling, the greater the impact. Do your best to slow your car down. This may include trusting your car’s ABS or anti-lock brake system. This system pumps the brakes faster than you can physically.
Keep your brake pressure consistent and allow the ABS to work for you. The brake pedal may vibrate, and the system performs best when wheels are positioned in a forward direction.
6. Consider Acceleration
If the situation warrants it, and you have the possibility to avoid or lessen impact by speeding up, do so.
7. Control Your Car to the Best of Your Ability
If your car hits a slippery spot and goes into a skid, steer your auto in the skid direction. Do not brake or accelerate if the tires do not have traction. Avoid slamming on brakes as you may lose control. Hold the steering wheel firmly and resist jerking it in one direction or another.
8. Aim for the Least Damaging Impact Object
There are situations where impact is inevitable. If you have a choice, aim for whatever will potentially cause the least damage. Bushes or trees may be preferable to oncoming traffic. Keep in mind that large trees, concrete walls or barriers, and head-on collisions with other autos will do lots of damage, so if there’s another choice, go for it.
9. Maintain a Correct Driving Posture
Maintain the correct driving posture even during a crash. Your seatbelt and airbags are designed for the protection of a correctly seated driver. Ducking, hunching, or moving to one side or the other, can cause your head to hit the dashboard, the steering wheel, or cause the airbag to be too close as it opens.
After the Crash
Even if you have survived the crash impact, you may still be in danger. Some injuries, especially internal injuries, may not be immediately apparent. Your vehicle may also be at risk for fire if there is gas leakage. Here are some final considerations once impact has taken place.
10. Call for Help and Secure Your Position
If possible, call 911 as soon as impact has passed. Consider if remaining in your car is safer than getting out, especially if you are on a highway, in traffic, or involved in a multiple vehicle crash. Prevent potential fire by shutting off the car if the engine is still running and not smoking.
Only consider leaving the car if you are in danger of fire or have crashed in water. If you have landed in water, open the window immediately and get out. You’ll need to help any passengers with you. Doors are generally impossible to open because of water pressure.
If you have a glass breaker, try to break a side window. Remember that front windows are designed to withstand impact.
While you will generally not be able to foresee or control impact in a car crash, what you do before, during, or after can reduce the damage, and may very well save your life and the lives of others.
