Cars, trucks, and SUVs provide us with a convenient way to get just about anywhere. Many of us rely on our vehicles to get us to work every day, to run errands, to drop off the kids at school, and even go on vacation.

However, it’s important to remember that vehicles are as dangerous as they are convenient. In 2016, 37,461 lives were lost on the road, with many more injuries than that. It’s well worth your time to be aware of the kinds of accidents you might find yourself in, as well as driving tips that will help you prevent them.

Broadside Collisions

Broadside collisions include any accident that involves one car hitting another car on the side of the vehicle. In most cases, broadside collisions occur when one person drives through an intersection without allowing another vehicle to go first. They can occur at intersections with stop signs as well as traffic lights.

To help prevent a broadside collision, scan the intersection before driving through it. That means looking carefully before you proceed after stopping at a stop sign, but it also means looking carefully at the traffic at a stoplight when the light turns green. Even if it’s your turn to go, it’s much better to let someone speed through a red light than attempt to proceed through the intersection and end up in an accident.

Rear-End Collision

In a rear-end collision, the person doing the rear ending is always at fault. However, that doesn’t mean the driver being hit can’t exacerbate the problem. That’s especially the case when dealing with tailgaters.

It can be tempting to slam on your breaks or try and speed away, but you should avoid the temptation as these methods will just make it more likely that you’ll end up in an accident. Instead, better tips for dealing with a tailgater include:

• Gently pushing on the brakes well ahead of stopping to give them plenty of warning.
• Maintain a constant speed or slow down slowly.
• If there are two lanes of traffic, merge into the right-hand lane.
• Pull over on the side of the road and let them pass.

Head-On Collisions

Getting in an accident is always scary, but the scariest kind of accident you can find yourself in is a head on collision. It has the potential to be the most deadly kind of car accident, and it’s also the most likely to total your car.

Unfortunately, head on collision is usually the fault of the driver. To avoid these kinds of accidents, it’s all about being more alert behind the wheel.

First, be aware of traffic signs. That’s especially the case when it comes to one-way roads. You should also stay in your lane, which means pulling over and resting if you’re feeling tired.

Rollover

Head-on collisions can be deadly, but so can rollovers. In addition, they can be scary. Being trapped in your car while it’s upside-down is a situation you don’t want to find yourself in.

In most cases, rollovers occur because of the road, the driver, and the environmental factors. For example, a roadway near a ditch is an easy way to experience a rollover if you aren’t paying attention to your lane, while getting nicked on the corner of your car can send you rolling down a hill.

In addition to paying attention and not drinking and driving, it can be helpful to know how to survive a rollover car crash too, as exiting the car is a lot more difficult than just opening the door.

Single Car Accidents

Some accidents you can’t avoid, no matter how hard you try. That’s because you don’t have any control over how other drivers behave on the road, and when they behave in unpredictable ways, you’ll find yourself in an accident.

However, an accident doesn’t always have to include another driver. Single car accidents are a possibility too! They usually include an off-the-road collision, like hitting a tree, collisions with fallen debris, and collisions with animals.

Paying attention to what’s on the road, not just other drivers and signage, is the best way to avoid this type of accident. Slow down on highways in wooded areas to avoid hitting a deer and turn on your brights to see large debris, like logs and tires, in the middle of the road.

Don’t let an accident ruin your day. Work on becoming a better driver with the tips on this list and you can reduce your chances of getting into an accident.