Transportation Tuesday TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY Vehicle rollovers are dangerous! Have you seen a rollover accident or have you experienced a rollover crash and survived it? It is very scary and something that you don’t want to experience for the first time or again! Rollovers are rare but when they occur, can lead to serious injuries or death.

Transportation Tuesday How do rollovers take place? A roll over crash is a complex event that could be caused by the driver’s behavior such as speeding or lack of concentration. The crash could also be influenced by road characteristics or the design of the vehicle. Usually large trucks and vans have a higher center of gravity than cars, and therefore likely to topple over very easily. A vehicle is also likely to roll over when it strikes a ditch, hits an object or runs onto soft sand or soil.

Transportation Tuesday Lets look at some rollover injuries.. Injuries to the person involved in a roll over accident can vary from minor to fatal. The severity of the injury depends on the impact. It also depends on whether the driver was wearing a seatbelt and if the driver comes in contact with any of the collapsing parts of the vehicle. Here are some injuries : Injuries to the head and neck which are common Brain injury or damage Spinal fracture Fractures to the arms or legs Concussion ( a hard blow to the head which could have a long lasting with movement, learning or even speaking) Dislocation of joints Cuts Internal body injuries

Transportation Tuesday Why is it important to wear your seatbelt? There is no such thing as slow roll overs. When a vehicle rolls over, the force is so strong that you may not be able to hold on to prevent the impact, but if you have your seatbelt fasten properly, you will probably survive the accident! Regardless of what vehicle you drive, seatbelts usually reduces the risk of being killed or seriously injured.

Transportation Tuesday Here are some safety tips…. Check the rating of a vehicle before purchase. Always wear your seatbelt. Experience and statistics show that less drivers or passengers are injured or killed when wearing their seatbelt. Avoid conditions that may lead to losing control- like alcohol, speeding or medication. Examine the road ahead to avoid any surprises. Be careful on curved roads and watch out for ditches, steep slopes and other road obstacles. Check your tire pressure. Reducing tire pressure may help you driver over sand or soft grounds. Drive slowly and stick to the speed limit. Don’t overload your vehicle. An overload can increase the chances of a rollover.

Transportation Tuesday