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Blog category: Driving

Avoiding Car Accidents: Do You Hit the Brakes or Swerve?

4 min read

When you encounter an obstacle on the road in front of you, is it safer to hit the brakes or swerve? A quick search on Google shows that many drivers are keen to know which is best, but you’ll find quite a few different answers to the question. The default advice seems to be to avoid swerving whenever possible. Because — unless you’re a professional driver — there’s a big chance you’ll swerve to avoid one obstruction and hit something else in the process. However, according to some safety experts, swerving is a defensive driving technique and, as such, can be learned by enrolling in a defensive driving course. This course is sometimes known as a “mature driving course” and is for drivers aged 55 or older.

Pro-tip: In addition to making you a safer driver, a mature driving course could earn you a discount on your auto insurance.

Stepping on the brakes to avoid a collision can be dangerous as well if done too hard when roads are slick or traffic is heavy. It seems there’s not one definitive answer because the safest strategy will depend on a variety of factors like your skill behind the wheel, your brakes, road conditions, traffic volume, and your driving speed.

The one thing most professionals do agree on is to avoid swerving and braking at the same time. Each of these actions need traction from your tires and if you do both simultaneously, you may end up skidding, which can put you in more danger. However, if you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and can brake gently, you’ll be more likely to maintain control of your vehicle. Again, your success here will depend on the situation and your experience.

If swerving is warranted, it should always be done as slowly and as carefully as possible. The following are a few scenarios you may encounter while driving:

  • Potholes: Sometimes they take you by surprise — especially if you’re driving fast. If the way is clear, try to swerve around potholes as they can cause major damage to your tires.
  • Electrical wires: Your vehicle’s tires should insulate you from the current but live wires are still dangerous so swerving to avoid touching them can be the safest solution.
  • Fallen trees: If there’s room to go around the obstruction, go for it — but be mindful of other vehicles, hidden obstacles, or deep puddles.
  • Cars turning left: If the vehicle in front of you is waiting for a break in oncoming traffic to turn left, this is an acceptable time to go around.
  • Animals on the road: Your strategy will depend on the animal’s size. If it’s a small creature, try to brake if you can stay on course. Colliding with a large animal, such as a deer, could injure you and seriously damage your car so try to avoid hitting the animal if you can swerve out of the way safely.

Follow the five general road-safety tips below to help keep you safe and avoid an accident:

  1. Maintain adequate driving distance

    The six-second rule is a rule for a reason. If the car in front of you suddenly brakes or loses control, and you’re traveling an interval of six seconds behind them, you’ll have time to perceive the threat, react safely, and brake in time. If the road is slippery from grease, rain, or ice, increase your following distance even more.

  2. Observe correct speed for road conditions

    If you’re driving at night or during bad weather, slow down. The slower you’re traveling, the more time you’ll have to react to anything untoward happening around you. Driving at lower speeds also translates to less severe outcomes if a collision is unavoidable. And it goes without saying that good drivers observe the posted speed limit even when conditions are good. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding has been responsible for approximately one-third of all accident fatalities over the past twenty years.

  3. Avoid distractions

    As a society, we are more distracted than ever before – on and off the road. While multi-tasking at your desk can be unproductive, trying to do multiple things while you’re behind the wheel can be deadly. The only task you should be doing when you’re driving is…driving. Texting, speaking on the phone, eating, retrieving fallen items, and putting on makeup can all result in accidents.

  4. Drive Defensively

    Driving defensively means being prepared for the unexpected and being aware of what other drivers around you are doing. If you assume that those sharing the road with you will pull dangerous maneuvers, you’ll be prepared and able to react quickly in a way that will keep you and your passengers safe. And yes, that could mean either braking hard or swerving to avoid a collision.

  5. Use extra care at intersections

    More than half of all injury crashes happen at intersections. Looking both ways to avoid red-light runners, stopping on yellow, and never changing lanes in the middle of an intersection are just a few techniques that can keep you safe while navigating an intersection.

The best way to avoid accidents involves so many variables. But certain things remain constant: Be vigilant, take your time, use extra care in extreme conditions, and keep your cool when faced with unexpected situations. This type of behavior will go a long way to keeping you and yours safe on the roads.

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Disclaimer:

The above content is for informational purposes only and is not a direct representation of coverages offered by Wawanesa or its policies. The information does not refer to any specific contract of insurance and does not modify any definitions, provisions, exclusions or limitations expressly stated in any contracts of insurance. All references within the above content are illustrative and may not apply to your situation. The terms and conditions of the actual insurance policy or policies involved in a claim are determinative as to whether an accident or other loss is covered. To understand the coverage under your current policy, please log into the account management platform to review your policy or contact an agent directly.

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