Prevention, Recognition and Loss Control Strategies

Losing control of a motor vehicle weighting between two and four thousand pounds can be very scary and even more importantly very dangerous for the driver, the passengers, as well as pedestrians nearby. Being focused on the driving task and keeping your hands on the steering wheel is just the first step in keeping control.

Check out the suggestions below and remember to drive safely.

__________________________________________________________________

Nine Basic Actions that can Minimize the Possibility of Crashes

Caused by Losing Control of Your Motor Vehicle

Inexperienced, as well as experienced drivers, can prevent crashes by avoiding distractions and maintaining control of their vehicles. The following basics will help drivers with all levels of experience perform safely behind the wheel. But, before you do anything buckle-up and be sure all of your passengers are buckled up.

1. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel!

Driver distraction is reaching epidemic proportions in drivers of all ages, but especially in young, inexperienced drivers. Consider all the things in a vehicle that can occupy a driver's attention: cell phones, radios and CD players, sophisticated vehicle controls, fast food and other drive-through conveniences, laptop computers and onboard navigation devices, not to mention passengers, children and pets.

In today's communities, more people spend more time in vehicles and on the road. Thus, they often try to maximize driving time by combining it with other activities, often with tragic consequences. Driving is not a multi-functional task. It requires the driver's full attention.

2. Set or adjust the controls on the vehicle and other devices as soon as you get in.

Fasten your safety belt and adjust your mirrors, the radio or CD player, and the climate control settings. Make sure everyone else in your vehicle is buckled up and that all objects are securely stowed.

3. Keep your body alert.

Sit straight, but relaxed. Place your left hand between the 7 and 9 o'clock positions on the steering wheel and your right hand between the 3 and 5 o'clock positions on the wheel. Hold the wheel with your fingers and thumbs. Avoid gripping it tightly because your palms are not as sensitive as your fingers. Look in the direction that you want to go.

4. Avoid using a cell or wireless telephone.

If you must use the phone,

• Make sure it's easy to reach and that you know how to operate it.
• Use a hands-free microphone when talking on the phone in the car.
• Use speed dial for frequently called numbers.
• Completely exit the roadway and pull into a parking space if you need to take notes, manually dial a number or if the conversation becomes emotional.
• If it's inconvenient to answer the phone, let your wireless network pick up the call or simply ignore it.

5. Anticipate the traffic and the environment around you.

• Maintain space around your car. Use the three-second rule to keep space between you and the vehicle ahead.
• Don't cut in front of other vehicles.
• Don't drive parallel with another vehicle. If something blocks your path ahead, you'll need the room on either side of your vehicle to escape the obstacle in front of you.
• If someone tailgates you, move into another lane and let the tailgater pass. Or, pull off the road so the person can pass. Avoid speeding up or slowing down.
• As you drive, look four or five vehicles ahead. This helps you anticipate stops, slowdowns, curves or other changes in the traffic or roadway.
• Check your rearview mirrors approximately every ten seconds. This helps you anticipate hazards approaching from behind.

6. Know the type of braking system that your vehicle uses.

• If your vehicle uses an anti-locking braking system (ABS), keep your foot firmly on the pedal if you stop suddenly. Do not pump the brakes in an emergency situation. This will provide false information to your braking system, preventing it from operating correctly.
• If your vehicle is not equipped with anti-lock brakes, press the brake pedal firmly, just short of locking the wheels. If your wheels lock, indicating a skid, let up slightly on the brake pressure. Then, reapply pressure to the brake. Continue this squeezing action until the vehicle stops.

7. Reduce your speed and increase your following distance.

Slow down in bad weather or other poor driving conditions, such as rain, fog, snow, ice, and heavy traffic. If you are uncomfortable with the speed limit, for whatever reason, slow down.

8. Maintain the speed limit.

Speeding will not get you to your destination faster. Speed influences a crash in four ways:

• It increases the distance your vehicle travels from the time you recognize an emergency until you can react.
• It increases the distance it takes to stop your vehicle. The faster you go the more distance it takes to stop your vehicle.
• Crash severity increases incrementally with speed. For example, if your speed increases from 40 to 60 miles an hour, your speed increases 50 percent while the energy released in a crash more than doubles.
• Higher speeds reduce the ability of vehicles, safety belts, air bags, guardrails and barriers to protect vehicle occupants in a crash.

9. Avoid sudden moves or over-correction.

A sudden response or over-correction, such as jerking the steering wheel to the right or left, or slamming on the brakes can cause the vehicle to skid, swerve into oncoming traffic or veer off the roadway. You can avoid sudden surprises that lead to reactive moves by watching the traffic and roadway ahead, behind and around you.

New Technologies

Loss control strategies in the past were basically thought of as the driving strategies of the vehicle operator. Typically, drivers have been taught, or learned on their own, to recognize potential situations that could cause loss of control of the vehicle and learned strategies to avoid losing control or, if control was lost, to recover as safely as possible, hopefully, without injury. More recently, an added emphasis has been placed on new technology.

Below are some of the new and developing technologies to assist drivers to better control their motor vehicles keeping in mind that driving safely and responsibly is the best way to avoid losing control.

Antilock brakes - Antilock brakes are designed to help drivers avoid crashes. When a driver hits regular brakes hard, the wheels may lock and the vehicle may skid. Wheel lockup can result in longer stopping distances, loss of steering control and, when road friction is uneven, loss of stability if the vehicle begins to spin. The main advantage of antilocks is that they can reduce these problems on wet and slippery roads. Antilocks shouldn't make much difference in stopping distances on dry roads, although they can enhance vehicle stability and allow drivers to maintain steering control during emergency stops when conventional brakes might allow wheel lockup and skidding. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute Last modified:09-Jan-2002)

Artificial Passenger (AP) System - This innovative system is designed by IBM to act as:

...a device designed to substitute for a yakking spouse or a talkative friend in the passenger seat. IBM hopes to see its invention in most cars as soon as three years from now. It will converse with the driver--about family matters, the weather, or the outcome of the latest Mets game. If you don't answer quickly enough, AP might turn on the radio. If that fails, the device will start telling jokes from your favorite Web site.

If there is still no response from the driver, AP can open the car windows. Or it could ask for permission to call a nearby hotel and reserve a room. (Business Week Online/August 17, 2001: IBM to Drivers: Wake Up!)

Collision Avoidance Systems - A side collision avoidance system is being tested in Allegheny County, PA. and a frontal collision warning system is being tested in San Carlos, CA. Both hold promise in helping bus drivers (and hopefully eventually automobile drivers) avoid side and frontal collisions. Both systems have sensors mounted to the test vehicles to detect objects within a certain range and provide feedback to the drivers. (Mass Transit Magazine/Major field test of collision avoidance systems underway in Pittsburgh/July, 2001, Bill Siuru)

Collision Warning System - This system is currently being developed by the Delphi Automotive Systems. Phase one was the development of the system that began during 1999. In phase two, vehicles well be fitted with a collision warning system. The system will record traffic and vehicle data and monitor driver reaction to determine the system's effectiveness. (ITS News/Delphi Nears Completion of Phase One Collision Warning Tests: September 6, 2001)

Early Recognition of Impending Accident System - The idea behind this future Mercedes-Benz system is to use the time after a driver recognizes that there will be a collision and the actual impact. The system will work as follows:

...the new occupant protection systems would go into action when the sensors in the car detect that the vehicle is on a collision course with another vehicle. Even before the driver has time to react and apply the brakes, the seatbelts will tension and restrain the driver's and passengers' torsos, preventing their bodies from moving forward during the braking maneuver and ensuring a safe seating position. At the same time, the seat cushions of the front passenger and rear seats will automatically tilt to the rear, while the door panels will move into the car's interior and mold themselves around the occupants' hips like protective shields. (ITS/Mercedes-Benz To Unveil Safety Concept At International Auto Show/August 14, 2001)

Electronic stability control - This system helps keep the vehicle on its intended path during a turn, to avoid sliding or skidding. It's especially helpful in slippery conditions and accident-avoidance situations. On a sport-utility vehicle, pickup, or other tall vehicle, it can also help prevent getting into a situation that could lead to a rollover. When available, stability control is highly recommended by Consumer Reports' auto experts. The system, however, has its limits; nothing can overcome the laws of physics. Automakers refer to their stability-control systems by different trademarked names and acronyms, which can be confusing. If in doubt, ask. (Consumer Reports/Safety features to look for: Advanced Safety Features are now more Reliable and Affordable, 2002 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc)

Rear View Mirror Dimmer - The concept behind this is for rear view mirrors to automatically darken as a vehicle with bright lights approaches from the rear. The brighter the glare the darker the mirrors would get thus protecting the driver from glare. (ITS/Gentex Ships Telematics Mirror for Lincoln Town Car/October 8, 2001)

Rollover Protection System - According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 60% of heavy truck fatalities occur when the trucks are involved in rollovers. To combat this, a rollover protection system was developed by IMMI, a manufacturer of commercial vehicle restraints. The system has three integrated components:

Rollover Sensor: A microprocessor-controlled, solid-state sensing device that utilizes complex proprietary algorithms along with vehicle specific calibrations to detect rollovers. Taking into account several critical dynamic factors specific to heavy truck, the sensing for IMMI's advanced occupant protection system to be deployed.

Inflatable Tubular Structure (ITS): During rollover, an inflatable tubular structure, hidden in the window trim above the door, deploys across the window and side vehicle interior to protect the driver's head during impact.

S4 Seat Pull-Down System: During a rollover the S$ system tightens the seat belt and pulls the air suspension seat down to the floor, positioning the occupant in a zone providing a more survivable space while minimizing head contact with the roof interior. (ITS/IMMI Offers Advanced Rollover Protection System/April, 16, 2001)

Side/Head Air Bags - According to a 2001 report by the IIHS, almost 10,000 deaths occur each year because of side impact crashes. Over 50% of those deaths are the result of head injuries. One possible answer to at lowering the number of deaths from side impact crashes is the use of side air bags. Test of the effectiveness of side air bags so far have been very promising. According the IIHS's president, Brian O'Neill "These tests demonstrate that head airbags can make very serious vehicle-to-vehicle side impacts survivable by preventing the intruding vehicle structure from striking occupants' heads. Without head airbags, serious or fatal injuries become more likely." (IIHS/Special issue:Head protection in side impacts/Status Report, Vol. 36,No. 1, January 6, 2001)

Traction control - This system limits wheel spin during acceleration so that the drive wheels have maximum traction. If a wheel begins to spin, the system selectively applies the brakes, reduces engine output, or both until traction is regained. Traction control is particularly useful when starting from a standstill in wet or icy conditions, and can be helpful as a less expensive (though less effective) alternative to all- or four-wheel drive. Some traction-control systems only operate at low speeds, while others work at all speeds. (Consumer Reports/Safety features to look for: Advanced Safety Features are now more Reliable and Affordable, 2002 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc)

For additional information see the following:

http://www.itsa.org/ivi.html

http://www.drivers.com/Top_Technology_Intelligent_Transportation_Systems.html

http://www.masstransitmag.com/articles/2001/mt_07-01/mt_07-01_06.htm

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/vrtc/ca/its.htm

http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20010920S0066

Return to Home Page