Preventing single car rollovers

Though vehicle safety standards in general have improved and the rate of fatalities due to single car rollovers have decreased, rollovers continue to be a concern for Kentucky drivers. While there are no specific government standards related to rollover accidents, the government does have a public education program that rates the propensity of vehicles to rollover. This includes a roof crush rule that measures how much weight a vehicle can sustain before the roof crushes in. The rule, which was revised in 2009, states that vehicles under 6,000 pounds must be able to sustain forces three times their weight on their roof. While this is one step towards better protection, there are other things drivers can do to prevent single car rollovers.

Drivers can begin by choosing newer vehicles that meet the most up-to-date safety standards. They should also wear safety belts at all times since in a car accident, the probability of death is higher for people ejected from vehicles. Additionally, drivers should check their tires to ensure that these are fully inflated to the correct maker-recommended level and that they are in good shape. Whenever possible, replacement tires should closely resemble the original tires of the vehicle since tires are part of each vehicle’s safety rating.

Another way rollovers can be prevented heavy loads are spread so that they are balanced and close to the center of the vehicle. Drivers should also watch their speed as they drive and pay attention to road conditions, since many rollovers, for example, take place in country roads, which tend to be left untended.

Kentucky drivers can make their driving experience safer by following these suggestions. However, when a driver is involved in a rollover, an investigation is important to determine what might have caused it, since it is not always due to a driver’s error or other related factors.

Source: ConsumerReports.org, “Rollover 101“, November 18, 2014