Avoiding a pileup may be next to impossible, particularly in conditions where visibility is poor and the road surface becomes unexpectedly slippery. However, there are some things that motorists can do to minimize their exposure to further danger after a collision occurs. Here are a few things to consider if you get caught up in the middle of a multi-vehicle accident.
Stay in Your Vehicle
The general consensus from first responders and other safety officials is to stay in the vehicle with your seat belt on until help arrives. Your vehicle will shield you from further impacts, and it will also give you shelter from the cold and snow. Of course, there are times when it’s better to get out of the vehicle, particularly if there is a fire, fuel leaking on the roadway, or if you’re at a spot near the edge of the pileup where other vehicles can crash into yours at full-speed. However, the odds are in your favor that you won’t be faced with these hazards, and it’s best to stay put.
If possible, turn off your headlights but keep your parking lights on, and turn on your hazard lights. While headlights can make your vehicle more visible from a distance, they can also blind approaching motorists and make it difficult for them to see the hazard ahead. Headlights can also make it difficult for people who are in the pileup to see as they assess the situation and decide what to do next.
If you have the opportunity to drive away from the pileup, take it. This will isolate you from being caught up in subsequent collisions and hazards, and you’ll be in a better position to calm down and think about what to do next. While laws regarding leaving the scene of an accident vary from state to state, many have provisions for being able to relocate if it is more-safe and prudent to do so.
Getting Out
If you decide to get out of your vehicle, it’s important that you quickly find a place to walk and seek shelter that is as safe as possible. This is where good situational awareness comes in, and you will need to rely on that skill in order to assess the situation, identify a plethora of hazards, and figure out a way to maneuver around them. Again, this is situation-specific. In some cases it will be easy to hide under a bridge or behind some kind of concrete barrier. In other cases, you can be exposed to all kinds of dangers for miles.
It’s also important that you are as visible as possible so that other motorists can see you and know where you are. Tape, wear or wave some bright fabric or material. Carry a flashlight. Walk in areas that are lit. Take a flare with you. Do what you can to attract attention to yourself.
Try not to wander off too-far either. You don’t want to put yourself in more danger by isolating yourself from help once it arrives. The farther you travel also increases the chances of running into more problems along the way. Get out of immediate danger, hunker down, take a few breaths, and start assessing the situation and decide what to do next.
Finally, assess the situation before deciding to leave your vehicle in order to assist other motorists. While you may be in a position to help, and you may want to help, you never want to do it at the expense of your own safety.
While these are just general guidelines to consider, what you end up doing will depend on the situation at hand. The important thing is that you take a moment to assess the situation, think a few steps ahead, and make good decisions that will maximize your safety. However, in most cases, doing nothing and staying put is the best option of all.
