Any motor vehicle collision creates the possibility of injury or death along with significant property damage. People involved in car crashes may end up hurt and in need of medical care. They may need time away from work. In some cases, the people involved in collisions die.
Technically, any type of crash can prove fatal. According to research by the National Safety Council (NSC), roughly 17% of all fatal collisions are rear-end crashes. When looking at the deadliest type of collision, many people might select head-on collisions as the most dangerous and likely to be fatal. However, federal crash statistics show that head-on collisions are not the deadliest type of wreck.
Angle collisions are the most dangerous
Rear-end collisions only account for a small percentage of all deadly crashes. Similarly, sideswipes and other minor collisions account for just 8.2% of all fatal crashes. Head-on collisions that might occur when one driver turns the wrong way on a one-way street or tries to pass another vehicle only to encounter oncoming traffic are certainly quite dangerous.
According to NSC data, head-on collisions are responsible for 29.9% of all fatal crashes. However, traffic laws and vehicle design both help reduce the likelihood of fatal head-on collisions. Vehicles have numerous safety systems, including seat belts and airbags, that can keep people in place and minimize their injuries in a head-on collision scenario.
Angle collisions, such as T-bone crashes, are technically the deadliest type of wreck, as they account for 44.8% of all fatal wrecks. Many times, angle collisions involve a vehicle turning left. One of the vehicles may be accelerating or maybe at a relatively high traveling speed. Higher speeds generally correlate to more severe collisions.
Unlike head-on collisions, where both drivers may swerve or hit their brakes to try to avoid the crash or reduce its severity, neither motorist may be able to react rapidly when an angle collision is about to occur. Additionally, there is a lack of mandatory safety infrastructure in vehicles that can leave people exposed in an angle collision.
Some vehicles have side impact airbags and safety systems intended to protect drivers and their passengers from an angle collision. Many vehicles, including older models, do not have any side-impact safety systems. Drivers may want to be especially cautious at intersections and when preparing to conduct a left turn to reduce their risk of an angle collision that could have deadly consequences.
Learning about motor vehicle collision statistics can help people prioritize their safety on the road. Overall crash statistics can also help people as they develop a plan after a car wreck as well.