Prevent Rollovers
A moment of inattention can turn your comfortable family car into a steel and glass deathtrap. Nearly as fatal as a head-on collision, the rollover is not the type of accident from which people generally walk away. Even if you survive and happen to be among the tiny statistic with no injuries, the cost of repairs to your vehicle could be astronomical.
Preventing a rollover isn't something you should think about only when you're in imminent danger. Once you pass the point of no return, there's little you can do but experience the nightmare. In order to be effective, prevention must start before you even get in the vehicle for the first time. Let's see how.
- Choosing your vehicle*If you are considering purchasing an SUV, truck, or minivan, please reconsider. The fact that a lucrative business in SUV rollover lawsuits has sprung up in recent years should set off warning bells in your mind. SUVs roll over three times more often than standard passenger cars. These types of vehicles have a very high center of gravity, meaning that the heaviest part of the vehicle is farther away from the road than a car with low center of gravity. In other words, they are top-heavy. Think about race cars - if they were built with a high center of gravity the drivers would never make it around the first lap. You may not be going at those speeds, but the same principles apply. The higher the center of gravity, the more likely it is to start to roll, and the less chance you have of correcting the roll.
As surely as tall trees topple in the wind while short ones remain to sway another day, a high center of gravity is lethal to you and your passengers. Choose a vehicle with a low center of gravity and a wide wheel base. Or, if you find yourself writing a check for an SUV, ask about electronic stability control. Electronic stability control, or ESC, is a computerized technology that detects any loss of steering control. If the vehicle is skidding, ESC will measure the direction of the skid and apply brakes to each wheel asymmetrically. This creates torque around your vehicle's vertical axis to realign your vehicle with your steering direction. Like any other technology, this is not a replacement for safe habits, so don't get in the habit of relying on ESC.
- Knowing your vehicle*Read your users' manual before you take your new wheels out for a test spin. If nothing else, you'll want to know the weight specifications, and become familiar with the braking system. Here's why.
An overloaded vehicle flying around a corner or coming to a sudden stop is unstable. Keep the weight of the vehicle within the recommended specifications. Moreover, it's not just how much weight but also the way the weight is divided up. Even if you're within a safe weight, using your roof rack to carry heavy furniture could mean the difference between a fatal rollover and a manageable incident. The more heavy items you place on the roof rack, the more top-heavy your vehicle becomes. If you absolutely must use the roof rack to transport something heavy, slow way down as you go around corners, and keep your accelerations and decelerations smooth. And if you've gone ahead and bought that SUV anyway, compounding its existing defects with an overloaded roof rack is a recipe for 911.
In addition to knowing the weight specifications, understanding the ins and outs of your particular braking system can help you handle your vehicle in the best way to avoid skidding, losing control, or locking up your brakes. Since all these problems can result in rollovers, familiarity with your braking system could save your life.
- Practicing safe driving habits*Once you've chosen your vehicle and familiarized yourself with the weight specifications and braking system, you can feel pretty confident about starting the engine. But wait! Don't let that confidence lull you into a false sense of security. Know what kind of habits cause rollovers, and replace those bad habits with safe ones. Here's a list of the top six safe habits:
1. Stay sober. More than half of fatal rollover crashes involve at least one drunk driver. Since a rollover requires faster reflexes than other dangerous incidents, even the slightest intoxication could drastically reduce your chances of survival.2. Keep your speed appropriate to the posted limit and to weather conditions. If you're going over 55 miles per hour, the chances of rolling over drastically increase. And even if you're obeying the speed limit, bad weather is a whole other ball game; icy roads and fog should encourage you to slow down and heighten your concentration.3. Wear your seatbelt. It's not uncommon for passengers to be ejected from the vehicle during a rollover. Nearly all deaths are due to the lack of a seatbelt.4. Drive defensively. Keep a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles; and stay out of other drivers' blind spots.5. Take exit ramps and bends carefully. If you jerk the wheel or fly around a curve, one side of your vehicle could tip over.6. Brake well in advance so you don't need to slam on the brakes. When your brakes lock up, you lose control and are unable to take corrective action if you start to roll.
- When the worst happens*Even if you're the safest and most prepared driver in the world, the reality is that you could still be face with that terrifying moment: your vehicle starts to roll. How do you react? Although it may seem counterintuitive, turn the wheel in the same direction your vehicle is tilting. Stay calm and don't make jerky movements or overcorrect - you might end up tilting too far in the other direction.
As a driver, it's your responsibility to educate yourself on preventing rollovers. Review this information mentally as you're driving, and make sure your friends and family are in the know also. The more smart drivers out there, the safer the roads will be for everyone.
