Factsheet 29 - October 2005

Head-on crashes

Over a quarter of all fatal road crashes in New Zealand are head-on crashes. Many of these involve multiple deaths.

Nearly one-third of road deaths in New Zealand result from head-on crashes. The outcomes of head-on crashes are particularly severe because when your car or truck hits another vehicle head on, the speed you collide at is the combined speed of both vehicles: often more than 200 km/h. The human body simply can't survive the kind of forces an impact like this can create.

For the many New Zealanders who die in head-on crashes every year, it's already too late. It's not too late for you. Following the tips in this factsheet can help you avoid becoming another head-on crash statistic.

What you can do to avoid a head-on crash

The best way to survive a head-on crash is to avoid having one in the first place.

Speed and alcohol are the two biggest causes of head-on crashes. Just 15 percent are caused by dangerous overtaking.

A head-on crash usually involves at least one vehicle crossing the centre line. The best way of avoiding a head-on crash is to keep control of your vehicle at all times, and keep left.

These five basic safety tips will help keep you alive:

1. Don't drink and drive.
2. Don't speed.
3. Be careful when overtaking.
4. Don't drive when you're tired.
5. Keep left.

Types of head-on crash

Look at the following kinds of common head-on crashes. To avoid any of them, you need to keep as far left as safely possible:

• Loss of control on a bend (30 percent)
• Swinging wide on a bend (18 percent)
• Straying to the wrong side of the centre line on a straight (21 percent)
• Overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic (nine percent).

It's also very important to wear your safety belt. Each year about 15 people involved in head-on crashes aren't wearing their safety belt at the time of the crash.

How many close calls have you had?

Many drivers will have already experienced a close call with another driver who has strayed over the centre line. The best way of staying alive is to drive defensively all the time: keep as far left as is safely possible.

Safe driving tips

Keeping left

• When you're driving, try to position your seat at about the mid-point of your lane. Many roads in rural areas are marked with edge lines — try to keep the left of your vehicle near the edge line.
• Be aware of what is to your left, so you can take evasive action if necessary.
• Use the left-hand lane at all times, unless passing.

Controlling your speed and cornering

• Brake on the straight before you corner.
• If the road is steep, curvy, wet or slippery, change down to a lower gear when approaching corners to reduce your speed and avoid sudden braking.
• When cornering, drive at a speed at which you know you can stop on your side of the road, within the distance that you can see ahead.
• At 100 km/h in dry conditions you will need 90 metres to stop — the faster you go, the further ahead you need to look and the longer it will take you to stop.
• Don't forget to allow extra stopping distance if you're towing a trailer, boat or caravan.

Watch out for loss of focus and fatigue

• Don't let your passengers distract you.
• On long trips, take regular breaks or share the driving.
• Make sure your driving seat and mirrors are set properly for you, to provide good body support and visibility.
• Try not to focus only straight ahead: scan the road and roadside in all directions and check your rear-vision mirrors regularly.
• Read Factsheet 24 Fatigue: Staying alert while you're driving to find out more.

See and be seen

• Never use parking lights for driving.
• Be seen in poor light: use your dipped headlights.
• If you've got a problem, let other drivers know. Pull as far to the left as you can while looking for a safe place to stop. Once you have stopped safely, use your flashing hazard lights.

Practise safe overtaking

Before overtaking, ask yourself the following split-second questions:

• Have I got a two second gap between me and the vehicle in front? (So I can clearly see the road ahead.)
• Are there any oncoming vehicles?
• Will I still have 100 metres of clear road ahead after I've finished passing?
• Is there anyone else behind me?
• Have I indicated for three seconds or more that I'm pulling out?

Before moving back into your lane, ask yourself:

• Can I see the person I've just passed in my rear view and left side mirrors? Is there room to move back?
• Have I indicated for three seconds or more that I'm pulling back in?

When being overtaken:

• Move as far to the left as it is safe to do.
• Never speed up when another driver is trying to pass.

Where you can find out more

• Email us: info@landtransport.govt.nz.
• Call our helpdesk: (freephone) 0800 699 000.
• Write to us: Land Transport New Zealand, PO Box 2840, Wellington.