How To Avoid Rear-End Collisions

Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video.

Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from tomthevideoeditor and more videos in the General Driving category.

You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at http://www.howcast.com/videos/new or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at http://www.howcast.com/filmmakers/apply.

Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of accidents on the road. These simple precautions will help you avoid them.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A well-maintained vehicle
An observant eye

Step 1: Maintain your vehicle

Check your brakes, tires, and suspension each year. Besides working brakes, your car needs good tire traction and a tight suspension to stop properly.

Step 2: Look ahead

Look ahead to anticipate traffic slowdowns and stops. Watch for brake lights, and look beyond the cars directly in front of you.

Step 3: Look behind

Keep an eye on traffic behind you, too. Lose tailgaters by changing lanes or slowly decelerating until they pass.

Tip: Before you begin driving, adjust your rearview mirrors for a clear view.

Step 4: Keep pace

Keep pace with traffic. Avoid driving much slower or faster than the other cars on the road.

Step 5: Follow the two-second rule

Leave enough room ahead for a sudden stop. Notice when the car in front passes a fixed object, such as a road sign. If you reach the same point before you can count to two slowly, you are following too closely.

Tip: Stopping distance includes reaction time plus braking time. At 60 miles per hour, you will travel 60 feet before you even hit the brake, and will need another 180 feet to stop.

Step 6: Signal and brake early

Give the drivers behind you plenty of notice before you turn, change lanes, or slow down. When traffic ahead slows, tap your brakes to alert the cars behind. Then brake gently and smoothly. Don't slam on the brakes.

Step 7: Look for escape routes

Look for escape routes as you drive. Know where you could go if you had to swerve to avoid a collision.

Tip: The best way to avoid an accident is to pay attention to the road! Don't talk on your cell phone, put on makeup, eat or drink, or fiddle with the radio as you drive.

Step 8: Stay out of blind spots

Stay out of other drivers' blind spots. If a car cuts you off changing lanes because the driver doesn't see you, you may have to slam on your brakes to avoid it.

Thanks for watching How To Avoid Rear-End Collisions! If you enjoyed this video subscribe to the Howcast YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=howcast

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HotHowTos
• driving
• accident
• rear
• end
• collission
• defensive
• caution

[Kingjay144]

wait... how to avoid suprise buttsecks?

[CirqueDuCloud]

Rear end collisions? Stop eating so many crispy cream doughnuts.

Sometimes its not being clumsy, but the size of your rear end.

[4mymubi]

I just had my first accident. I rear ended a guy ..because I was looking at the clouds ...how they looked beautiful up in the sky..next thing I saw was a car's bumper ....well at least it was a minor accident .....I was slow so no injuries ...l

[hejjagedu]

@gunnerfan2000 2 vehicle lengths is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too short.

The person in front of you has the right to brake hard is (s)he deems it appropriate, and it's the person behind's task to stay far enough away to be able to react.

The driver in front is thus NEVER at fault (unless (s)he does it on purpose...)

[Mamsaturatdevoi]

Steps 4 and 6 really good tips :) Well,all are but the rest are common sense or have been repeated by everyone by now.

[gunnerfan2000]

I was in one today, the thing is I was at least 2 vehicle spaces away from her vehicle, but she stopped so suddenly that by the time I realized and slammed the brakes I still skid into her back. Minor damage though, but I dont agree with the assumption that the person who rear ends is always at fault.

[brandavies]

@Planeguy13 Something else that I've seen a lot since texting became popular is where traffic is stopped ahead of the car in front of you, but the car in front of you isn't paying attention until the last second and swerves out of the lane without hitting their brakes, leaving you and the people behind you with maybe 20 or less feet to come to a stop. This is a big problem for me, because I drive a small car in an area with a lot of big vehicles, and I can't see around them very well.

[garrash6]

(best howcast thing ever made)

HOW TO GO THROUGH MONITORS AND PUNCH IDIOTS IN THE FACE

[Planeguy13]

Swerving is not a good idea. Unless you know its safe don't swerve because you could potentially end up in a much more dangerous situation. Example: Swerving into the oncoming lane of traffic because the person in front of you slammed on their brakes could cause you to have a head on crash vs. having a fender bender had you hit the car in front of you.

[SeikoPsycho]

DAYAMNNNNNNN Howcast!

You got a BMW e90 with your AdSense money? Gimme summa dat!