It seems as though the frequency of news stories involving wrong-way drivers has increased in recent years. For one reason or another, motorists often end up traveling the wrong way on highways. Others are moving into the oncoming lane of traffic on a two-lane road.
All of these drivers heading right into oncoming traffic cause severe and deadly accidents. It may be difficult to imagine anything quite as frightening as a pair of headlights heading right toward your car at an undetermined rate of speed. Would you know what to do?
These tips could save your life
Whether you see other vehicles swerving out of the way of something first or see the headlights of another vehicle coming your way first, you probably only have seconds to take evasive action. The following tips could help you make good use of that time:
- Keep an eye on the traffic well ahead of you, not just the one or two vehicles in front of you. The more aware you are of what’s coming, the better off you may be.
- Let off the gas right away and pump the brakes if you see a vehicle headed toward you. You could lose control if you slam on the brakes.
- Stay in the right lane, especially at night. Wrong-way drivers often occupy the left lane of a two-lane road because they believe they are on the correct side of the road.
- Turn your wheel to the right (never the left) to avoid a wrong-way driver. Even if you go off the road, the results may be better than if you moved to the left or did nothing.
This brings up another good point. Even if there is another vehicle on your right, experts recommend steering into it. It’s better to make contact with the side of a vehicle moving in your same direction than it is to slam head-on into a vehicle heading toward you. The impact will more than likely be less, and so will the injuries.
If you do end up in a collision due to a wrong-way driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and your financial losses associated with the crash. In order to help ensure that you pursue all of the compensation you deserve, it may be beneficial to obtain the advice of an attorney before moving forward.