All motor vehicle accidents can be catastrophic. A rollover crash, however, is among one of the most violent accidents. Unlike other crashes, there is more focus on the driver’s interaction with his or her environment than there is his or her interaction with other drivers.
Do you know what causes rollover crashes? According to the NHTSA, rollover crashes have common factors.
Factors in rollover crashes
Rollover crashes are complex, but there are some common threads that link most. One major factor in whether a vehicle will roll is the type of vehicle. While most vehicles can roll over, SUVs and vans are more likely to roll. This is due to the higher centers of gravity that make them more prone to flipping.
Other factors include speed and alcohol. Often, a rollover crash occurs due to speed. In fact, most will occur in areas where the speed limit is over 55 MPH. Location may also come into play. Most rollover accidents happen in rural areas. These are roads with higher speed limits and a lack of barriers.
Statistics of rollover crashes
In almost half of all rollover crashes, speed is a contributing factor. What is interesting to note about rollovers, compared to other car crashes is that most rollover crashes are one-vehicle accidents. When it comes to fatalities, over 85% of all rollover fatalities occurred in one-vehicle car wrecks. In addition to that number, over 90% of all rollover fatalities occur during routine driving maneuvers. For instance, many drivers are simply on a straight path or may be negotiating a familiar curve in the road.
