Alcohol use and speed are also contributing factors to vehicle rollovers.
In order to reduce your risk for having a rollover, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety offers these tips:
- Don’t Drive Too Fast. By sticking to the posted speed limit you give yourself more time to react to any obstacles in the road. Additionally, even if you are surprised by an emergency and have to swerve, the lower rate of speed will keep your vehicle on all four wheels.
- Avoid Overcorrecting Your Steering. Studies show that many rollovers occur when drivers have swerved and are overcorrecting their steering.
- Practice Extra Care on Rural Roads. Back roads, particularly those that are undivided or don’t have barriers pose an added risk when the vehicle leaves the pavement. These roads are more likely to have a drop between the level of the pavement and the level of the grass or dirt on the side of the road. This drop can present an added risk of rollover by shifting the car’s balance.
- Properly Inflate Tires. Improperly inflated and worn out tires can be especially dangerous because they affect your ability to control the vehicle. Worn tires are also dangerous because of their propensity to let the vehicle slide on wet pavement.
- Avoid Overloading the Vehicle. To find out the maximum safe load for your vehicle, consult your owner’s manual. Overloading the vehicle, especially with a roof rack, can have a substantial impact on the vehicle’s center of gravity.
