Avoiding rear-end collisions

Steering clear of bumper-to-bumper trouble

Rear-end collisions are among the most common auto accidents every year in the United States.

But by staying alert and anticipating problems, people can avoid hitting others - and even help keep others from hitting them.

To avoid being hit, consider doing the following:

• Know what's going on behind you. Adjust your outside and inside mirrors before moving your vehicle, and use them frequently. Keep your rear window clean.
• Flash your brake lights. Tap your brakes when you are standing, moving slowly or preparing to stop. Check your brakes often to make sure they're working, and keep your brake lights clear of dirt and snow.
• Signal well before you turn and change lanes.
• Keep pace with traffic when speed limits and road and weather conditions permit.
• Get rid of tailgaters. Slow down gradually by removing your foot from the brake. If the tailgater doesn't move, change lanes safely. Use extra caution when slowing down or changing lanes, and don't let the tailgater distract you.
• Don't stay in another driver's blind spot. If that vehicle suddenly swerves into your lane, you may have to brake hard, exposing you to a possible rear-end collision.
• Raise the hood if your vehicle stalls and you can't move from a traffic lane. Do everything possible to help others see your vehicle. Use emergency flashers and, if available, flares and reflective markers. Stand away from traffic while you wait for help.

There also are things you can do to keep from hitting others from behind. Consider:

• Braking early.
• Paying strict attention to traffic flow. At 40 mph, a vehicle travels 60 feet in one second, meaning even short distractions can make a difference.
• Using good vision habits. Don't follow so closely that you can't see ahead. When you can, look through their windows to see the road ahead, and look over the top of your car when you're on a hill.
• Looking for things that could cause the driver ahead of you to stop. Their problems become yours a second or two later.
• Staying aware of your ability to swerve to the right on icy roads. Even though ice may make it impossible to stop in time, you often can swerve to the right to avoid a vehicle in front of you. Never swerve to the left, where you're inviting a head-on collision.
• Increasing your following distance to accommodate road and weather conditions.
• Staying alert for dangerous signals:



• Brake lights on the vehicle ahead of you. As soon as you see them, get your foot off the gas pedal and be ready to brake.
• A diminishing distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you, which may be slowing down or stopped.
• Problems in adjacent lanes. Watch for brake lights and slowing traffic in lanes next to yours, and expect other drivers to swerve quickly into your lane.

Help is available

At Allstate, we want to not only provide the insurance coverage that helps protect your people and property, but to give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you're backed by a team of Loss Control Consultants who understand your business and can help you prevent a loss before it happens.

That's why we've created the Allstate Safety Line at 800-877-6998, where Loss Control Consultants personally help small-business owners learn more about:

• Fleet and auto safety
• Accident investigations
• Self-inspection procedures
• Safety training
• Fire protection and safety
• Hazard control methods
• Safety and health rules and regulations that apply to your particular business
• Much more

Just call us anytime with your contact information and briefly describe your question or issue. If a trained Loss Control Specialist isn't immediately available, one will call you back by the end of the next business day.