There are many different ways to classify collisions. In some cases, people describe motor vehicle wrecks on the basis of the type of vehicles involved. People may talk about semi-truck crashes, motorcycle collisions or passenger vehicle wrecks.
Other times, the primary consideration is the underlying cause of the crash. People talk about distracted driving collisions or drunk driving crashes as unique categories of car wrecks. When looking at federal collision statistics, researchers may group crashes on the basis of vehicle type or underlying cause.
Another way of differentiating between different types of collisions involves how the vehicles make contact with one another. The way that vehicles collide can directly influence the severity of a crash. When looking at federal research about types of collisions, there is one type of crash that is far more dangerous than others.
What is the most dangerous way for vehicles to collide?
Many people think of head-on collisions as the deadliest, but they are not. Instead, they take second place on the ignoble list of deadliest crash types. Roughly 29.6% of fatal collisions involve head-on crashes.
The deadliest type of crash is actually an angle collision where one vehicle strikes the other on the side, also known as a T-bone crash. According to the National Safety Council, 44.9% of fatal crashes are angle collisions. Rear-end collisions account for another 17.3% of fatal wrecks. Sideswipes and other types of wrecks account for 8.2% of all fatal collisions.
It is worth noting that even crashes that people might dismiss as relatively not dangerous, including rear-end crashes and sideswipes, cause a noteworthy number of fatalities every year. Drivers generally need to remain aware of their surroundings and the conduct of others to limit their crash risk.
Angle collisions are among the hardest to prevent. Drivers may not be able to stop or swerve to avoid them. Factors that may contribute to angle collisions include turning at intersections or in front of approaching traffic. Drivers who recognize that angle collisions have the potential to be the deadliest type of crash may be more proactive about ensuring their safety when they decide to turn.
Learning about what contributes to crash risk may ultimately promote safer behavior in traffic. Those affected by motor vehicle collisions may need to take action to hold the driver at-fault accountable for injuring them or someone they love.