Collision avoidance techniques (stop, steer away, speed up etc.)

Most road users have likely witnessed or been part of a collision at some point in their lives. Driving can be a risky task, with the many things that can go wrong. A moment’s inattention or an unexpected patch of ice or gravel can cause accidents if drivers fail to notice important details about other road users or the condition of the road. Learning the techniques for controlling vehicles and avoiding collisions is important for every driver.

Three Elements of Collision Avoidance

According to the Canada Safety Council’s Defensive Driving Course website, three elements are part of part of collision prevention: recognizing the hazard, understanding the defense, and acting in time. Recognizing the hazard involves watching the road for possible dangers, such as pedestrians crossing the road, drivers failing to stop at red lights or stop signs, large trucks making wide turns or even tall snowbanks blocking a driver’s view of cross traffic.

The second element of collision avoidance is to understand the defense, or how to avoid an accident, followed by the third element, acting in time. This involves choosing the best option, or at least the least dangerous option, for avoiding collisions and keeping the roads safe. Quick reactions are important, but it is also essential to weigh the potential consequences of various choices, but experience can help. In addition, thinking through the various options before getting behind the wheel can be a valuable exercise.

Techniques for Collision Avoidance

The Driver’s Ed website lists three basic techniques for avoiding an accident. The first is to stop the vehicle. This method can be helpful in many cases, such as when a pedestrian or an animal suddenly darts out in front of the vehicle or in heavy traffic where vehicles may be starting, stopping and changing lanes frequently. Stops may be abrupt emergency stops, or the driver might have time to anticipate the hazard and slow down more gradually. In many cases, being able to respond quickly to potential hazards is important.

Sometimes, stopping gradually may help drivers to avoid collisions, but often a fast reaction is necessary in these situations. However, this move can also be dangerous in itself. If a vehicle stops suddenly, the drivers following behind may fail to notice in time to stop safely and may potentially collide from behind. Pileups like these can be dangerous and often deadly. Unless an abrupt stop is the only option in a situation, stopping gradually is a better option when possible.

A second tactic for avoiding collisions is to turn or steer away from the obstruction. Sometimes, this method involves correcting the path of a vehicle, such as when an overtired driver allows the vehicle to drift over the centre line of a highway. On seeing what is happening, the driver then turns the wheel to move back to the right side of the road.  At other times, steering out of the path of a pedestrian or a vehicle crossing the road can help to avert an accident.

However, drivers need to be careful of causing a second accident while attempting to avoid the first. Steering away from one obstruction can sometimes put the vehicle into the path of other traffic and potentially cause a collision. Before steering out of the way of one hazard, drivers should be sure to check for any other hazards around them. Checking for bicycles and other small vehicles is especially important, as these road users may be difficult to see.

Another danger of steering away from an obstruction is the possibility of driving off the road and possibly rolling over, especially at highway speeds. With going off the road, one danger is that the vehicle will collide with a telephone pole or other object with an impact that can kill or badly injure the occupants. Even if no damages or injuries occur, the vehicle could be stuck in a snowbank or mud and require a tow truck to get back onto the road.

Part of the purpose of steering away is what the E-Permit Test website refers to as reducing the consequences. Even if drivers are unable to avoid a crash entirely, they may be able to hit the object with a light, glancing blow rather than with the full force of the vehicle. This technique is likely to cause less damage and fewer injuries. However, it can also bring a greater risk of losing control and crashing into another object.

Besides stopping or steering away from a hazard, drivers may be able to avoid collisions by speeding up.   This technique can be especially useful when going through intersections where a vehicle in the cross street fails to stop and is in danger of colliding from the side. If the road ahead is clear, the first driver may be able to speed up enough to clear the intersection or at least get out of the other driver’s path. Another time when speeding up can help is when another vehicle is coming up too quickly from behind and is unlikely to stop. Briefly speeding up in this case can help drivers to restore a safe gap between vehicles.

Using the Horn

A somewhat overused collision avoidance technique can be very disruptive to everyone on the road is to use the vehicle’s horn. Drivers use it to warn road users if they are coming too close or to alert them to other situations on the road. Sometimes, using the horn is necessary for alerting other road users of potential dangers, but drivers should be careful of using this tool too often. Besides potentially being annoying to others, an overused horn can become ineffective or in some cases even deadly.

As the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s website notes, drivers should be careful of using their horns, especially around cyclists. Riding a bicycle involves finding a sense of balance, and sudden noises may scare cyclists enough that they lose control of their machines and possibly fall. Loud blasts on the horn can even startle vehicle drivers, and their reactions can be unpredictable. If using the horn is necessary, drivers should tap lightly on it rather than making a loud and sustained noise.

People might assume that collisions between two vehicles are the greatest danger on the road, but this is not necessarily the case. According to the Preliminary 2019 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report, 509 fatal collisions and another 32,628 collisions involving personal injuries occurred in the province that year. The highest number of fatalities involved large trucks, with pedestrian fatalities coming second. However, by far the largest number of deaths happened in single-vehicle collisions, such as when a vehicle crashes into a pole at the side of the road. Using proper collision avoidance techniques can help prevent many of these accidents.

 Reducing the Damage

Trying to avoid a collision entirely should be every driver’s goal, but that is not always possible. If a collision is inevitable, it can still be possible to reduce the damage to the vehicle and injury to the occupants. As the E-Permit Test website notes, hitting an object with a glancing blow is normally better than hitting it head on, and driving off the road is preferable to skidding. That way, the driver can maintain better control of the vehicle and avoid many of the possible hazards at the side of the road, such as hydro poles or icy patches.

Vehicles after a Collision–Shutterstock

Even in the few moments before a crash, drivers can try to mitigate the potentially deadly consequences. For example, it is better in a collision to crash into a soft object rather than a hard one. If possible, drivers should steer into a bush or a flower bed rather than colliding with a tree or the side of a building. This technique requires quick thinking; however, looking ahead on the road can help. The soft surface will absorb much of the impact, slow the vehicle down, and help to reduce the possibility of major injuries or vehicle damage.

The most dangerous type of accident is a head-on collision. When two vehicles crash into each other, the damage and injuries can be significant. Rather than taking that risk, drivers should try to direct their vehicles towards a stationary object rather than one that is moving. This will reduce the force of the impact and help keep everyone safer, especially if the stationary object has no people in it.

The Importance of Learning the Techniques

Avoiding a collision is not always possible, but drivers can learn ways of driving more safely to reduce the chances of a collision, or at least to make the consequences less serious. Stopping, steering away from danger, speeding up or even using the horn can help drivers to avoid collisions or to reduce the chances of serious injuries. If injuries occur, people can lessen their impact by bracing their heads against the headrest, ensuring that their arms are clear of the airbag, and more. Other techniques, such as hitting an object with a glancing blow can also be useful in many cases.

The usefulness of techniques like these depends on the situation, and drivers need to be discerning about when and where they use these procedures. Remembering these techniques and putting them into practice when necessary can help all drivers to make the roads safer for everyone. Collision avoidance techniques are skills that every driver should know and be able to use whenever the need arises.