Accident - Safety belt

01 Sept 2017 Examples of accidents & crash tests
Sequence of events:
The driver of a car (1) started to overtake on the highway but failed to indicate in time her intention to change lane by operating the turn signal and did not notice the car traveling next to her (2). This resulted in a collision; the driver of car 2 lost control. Car 2 then collided with other vehicles before skidding off the right-hand side of the road. The vehicle rolled over three times in the embankment and field adjacent to the road.
Vehicles:
Multiple cars
Consequences/injuries:
The driver of car 2, who was wearing a safety belt, suffered minor injuries; his passenger, who was not wearing a safety belt, was thrown out of the car and died of his injuries in hospital. Cause/problem: Mistake by the driver of car 1 when attempting to overtake. Passenger in car 2 not wearing a safety belt.
Avoidance measures, mitigation of consequences/ strategy for road safety measures:
  • The accident could have been prevented if, before attempting to overtake, the driver of car 1 had checked the traffic situation behind her car, operated the turn signal in time and glanced over her shoulder.
  • In situations like this, a lane change assist system could have prevented the accident.
  • Had the passenger in car 2 been wearing his safety belt, he would also have most likely survived with minor injuries.