— Causes of Rollover Accidents
There are a combination of factors that can cause rollover car accidents. These can relate to the driver, conditions of the road, cargo being transported, vehicle design and other issues.
Issues contributing to rollover accidents include:
Driver Behaviors
- Drowsy driving
- Steering overcorrection
- Failure to appropriately handle slippery roads
- Speeding
- Distracted driving (i.e: texting while driving, talking on the phone while driving, talking with others in the vehicle, eating, etc)
Road Conditions
- Slippery roads
- Low, soft shoulders
- Drop-offs on the roadway
- Cloverleaf highway ramps
- Roadway barrier design
- Road debri
Vehicle Conditions
- Wheelbase of the vehicle
- Vehicle weight
- Track width of the vehicle
- Center of gravity
- Tire wear conditions
Cargo Issues
- Excessive passengers
- Unbalanced or unevenly distributed cargo
- Incorrectly secured to the vehicle
— Statistics of Rollover Accidents
About one fifth of all fatal crashes involve vehicle rollover, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Characteristics of Fatal Rollover Crashes report.
Many car accident statistics indicate that group vehicles like large-capacity vans used to transport church groups, college athletic teams and carpool passengers are considerably more likely to rollover when filled with people. The NHTSA has issued warnings about these vehicles, after studies revealed that large capacity vans are 300 percent more likely to rollover when 10 passengers or more are in them, than vans without so many people.
Some statistics of rollover auto accidents include:
- Almost 75 percent of occupants fatally injured in rollover auto crashes were not using safety belts. Just under 66 percent were completely ejected from their vehicle. Although fatal rollover accidents are most often single vehicle car crashes, this type of car wrecks result in more fatalities than any other.
- The NHTSA report also attributes the highest number of fatal rollover accidents to sport utility vehicles, SUVs. These vehicles have a high center of gravity, making them more prone to rollover. Drivers of SUVs often have a false sense of safety security, not expecting their vehicle to rollover as easily as these type of passenger cars frequently do.
- But rollover accidents can occur involving almost any type of vehicle. Even short-trip business drivers using a vehicle for local errands can experience a rollover.
- Most fatal rollover crashes are related to speed. Excessive speeding is to blame in about 40 percent of rollover crashes with fatalities. Nearly 75 percent of those involved speeds of 55 mph or higher.
- More than 90 percent of vehicles in single-vehicle accidents with fatalities were performing routine driving operations such as going straight or negotiating a curve when the accident occurred, according to the NHTSA.
- The NHTSA reports that almost 85 percent of fatal accidents involving rollovers are single-vehicle crashes. For many of these, driver behaviors play a major role in the rollover. Such behaviors include speeding, distraction, inattentive driving and impairment while driving.
The good news is that according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report on car accident deaths, the number has significanly dropped over the last 30 years.
— How to Reduce Risk of Rollover Accidents
- Ensure you have adequate rest before getting behind the wheel, particularly for long trips.
- Never drink and drive, as almost half of rollover accidents involve alcohol impairment
- Watch for weather conditions – rain, snow, ice and wet debris can create slippery conditions affecting vehicle handling
- Exercise extra caution on rural roads or those that are narrow and poorly maintained
- During a skid, remain calm because driving behaviors during panic often leads to rollovers
- When wheels drop off roadway or pavement, such as on a low shoulder, gradually reduce speed and cautiously steer the vehicle back onto the road when it is safe to do so
- When a large capacity van is not full, all passengers should sit in more forward seats, those in front of the rear axle
