Posted on September 30, 2016 by datateam
A rollover accident is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to the people in a vehicle. While only 3% of vehicle crashes involve a rollover, those crashes account for 30% of all fatal car accidents.
These occurrences do not need to be as dangerous as they are, however. Advances in vehicle safety technology include rollover-avoidance features, improved vehicle designs, and enhanced safety measures. Rollovers can be avoided in some cases – if the vehicle’s driver knows how to prevent them.
What Leads to a Rollover?
Since rollovers are so likely to result in serious injuries or fatalities, it is essential that all drivers know how to prevent one whenever possible. This includes knowing what makes a vehicle more likely to roll over and how to avoid causing one.
The greatest factor in determining the risk of a vehicle rolling over is its weight distribution. Vehicles with low centers of gravity are less likely to roll over, as are those with an equal distribution of weight. Having a lot of weight on one side of car makes it more likely to tip toward that side and begin rolling.
Rollovers happen when the car’s weight is great enough on one side that the vehicle tips onto that side. With enough momentum, a single tip can turn into a roll. Weight shifts when a vehicle takes a curve or turns quickly. A driver can cause a vehicle to roll over by taking a curve with too much speed or by sharply jerking the wheel.
Overcorrecting after a too-sharp turn further increases the chances of rolling over. Turning sharply first one way and then the other creates a pendulum effect, creating more-powerful shifts in a car’s center of gravity. Vehicles do not frequently roll over just because of a steering maneuver, however. More often, the car will “trip” on something like a curb orpothole.
The grip of a car’s tires plays a complicated part in its rollover risk. Too much grip on a tire makes a vehicle build up sideways momentum when it turns, which can cause it to roll over when the driver tries to straighten out. Not enough grip can allow a vehicle to slip when turning, and it decreases a driver’s ability to maneuver around potholes and other obstacles – which can “trip” a vehicle.
The single biggest thing a person can do to reduce his or her chance of being seriously injured or dying in a rollover accident is to wear a seat belt. A recent NHTSA study showed that 75% of people killed in a rollover were not wearing a seat belt.
Best and Worst Cars for Rollovers
Part of what can lead to a rollover is the vehicle’s design – i.e., its shape and size. This means that certain models of vehicles are intrinsically more likely to roll over. Sport utility vehicles as a whole are the most likely type to roll over, but the risk varies widely from model to model. Cars tend to be the least likely type to roll over.
Some of the least likely vehicles to rollover include the:
- Mazda RX-8
- Acura TL sedan
- Mazda3 compact sedan
- Volkswagen Beetle convertible (the newest model)
- Hyundai Tiburon sports coupe
Vehicles with the highest risk of rollovers include the 4×2 versions of the:
- Ford Explorer SportTrac
- Mercury Mountaineer
- Ford Explorer
- GMC Yukon
- Chevy Tahoe
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration judges the propensity of these vehicles to roll over. It rates vehicles based on real-world accident data and the results of putting the vehicle through a special maneuver designed to gauge the risk of rollovers.
Rollovers are some of the most dangerous types of accidents. Thankfully, they are rare – and they can become even rarer if drivers know how to prevent them.
To schedule a free consultation with our San Diego car accident attorneys, contact one of our eight Southern California offices immediately.
