How to Minimize a Car Accident
Avoiding car accidents needs to be every driver's number one priority. Most of us take great care to prevent them from happening. But what should you do if an accident is imminent? Take these following precautions:
1. Respond quickly and smoothly. Don't slam your brakes.
2. Use a combination of controlled steering, light braking and careful accelerating to avoid or minimize damage.
3. Brake — but with control. Do you have antilock brakes? Don't pump them! You'll feel the pedal vibrate as your automobile's ABS computer kicks in to pulse them. Get ready to hold the brakes firmly and steer as you normally would.
If you don't have antilock brakes, pump the brakes so that you can control your vehicle. Slamming hard down on the brakes will cause skidding and potential for serious injury.
4. Steer with smooth movements. Steering jerkily will lead to skids.
5. Decide if you may need to speed up to get out of harm's way.
6. If you start to lose control, steer in the direction of the skid while keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel. Notice what direction the back of the car is headed. If it is sliding to the right, then turn your wheels to the right. Don't brake or accelerate until your tires have regained traction.
7. Avoid collisions if at all possible. and do your best to control the speed of your car. Remember — the faster the speed, the higher the impact will be.