Most drivers want to avoid collisions whenever possible. They pay close attention to their surroundings, keep their vehicles well-maintained and try to minimize distractions. Certain scenarios, such as merging onto a highway or turning onto a one-way street, may make people particularly anxious about the risk of a crash.
While any type of collision can cause massive property damage and injuries for the people in the vehicle, certain types of crashes are more likely than others to have devastating consequences. Many motorists innately fear the prospect of a head-on collision.
They worry that if they collide with another vehicle in that manner, the damage to the vehicle and risk of injury may be particularly high. While head-on collisions are dangerous, federal crash statistics show they are not actually the deadliest type of crash.
What type of cash is the most dangerous?
The National Safety Council (NSC) gathers details about major collisions and analyzes that information to better guide public policy. Head-on collisions are statistically the second-deadliest type of crash. They are responsible for 29.6% of all fatal collisions.
However, vehicle manufacturers have long invested in safety systems intended to protect vehicle occupants in the event of a head-on crash. Much safety testing focuses on head-on collisions. Airbags, safety restraints and vehicle design elements can all help protect people in head-on collisions.
Angle collisions, unfortunately, do not receive the same degree of attention. That may help explain why they are statistically the deadliest type of wreck. According to NSC data, 44.9% of all fatal car crashes involved the front end of one vehicle striking the side of another vehicle.
The lack of vehicle safety systems, such as side-impact airbags, undoubtedly contributes to that risk. Turning and approaching intersections can increase angle collision risk. Angle collisions are frequently the result of distraction or a failure to yield. The people involved in the wreck may be able to file an insurance claim or may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit depending on the circumstances.
Learning more about motor vehicle collisions can help people enhance their safety and traffic and demand accountability after a wreck. Drivers who understand how dangerous angle collisions could be are in the best possible position to protect themselves and their passengers.