How could I have prevented my car accident?

Question

I was traveling straight on the interstate in snowy conditions. The road itself was not covered in snow because so many cars had driven over it. While traveling straight, I felt loss of control in the steering so I attempted to slow down by taking my foot off the accelerator (without braking either) thinking that would help me regain control. Unfortunately, I was wrong... the car started drifting sideways while the front of my car was facing the right guardrail. I was drifting for 2 or 3 seconds before the car turned all the way around facing oncoming traffic and the rear of the driver's side slammed into the guardrail.

From my description, do you think I could have done anything different to prevent the loss of control? Could I maybe have accelerated rather than slowed down to regain control?

Answer 1

From your description, you were doomed.

In circumstances where traction is available, reduction of  speed and gentle breaking is useful. In the circumstances you were in, no predictive control is possible. The fact that you were going slower did not help your control of the vehicle, but it did help lessen the Newtonian F=MA law, so you didn't hit with such a high impact that you were killed, or that more damage occurred. The Law of Inertia requires a change of vectors; it won't happen with tires on ice.

The Law of Inertia aside, I'll bet it was scary as heck. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and glad you are still with us.

Answer 2

Walk next time

Answer 3

You had lost traction all ready,I doubt you could of done anything to gain control in time to avoid the guard rail.

I think you must of run over ice at some point.

Answer 4

You probably could have prevented it by buying a rear wheel drive car. Front wheel drive cars make up traction on the opposite wheel if one loses traction. And in turning, one wheel will speed up a bit.  This sort of thing works great avoiding fetting stuck in snow, mud and sand. Unfortunately it can be a hazard at highway speeds. I have seen plentu of front wheel drives lose it just driving in the rain, worse if there's a puddle.

But when you realized the slide you made another mistake. You should have begun handling your car like a sled on snow. I can steer a car on glare ice like this, holding my lane but the car itself swapping ends front to back. The technique has you spinning the steering wheel lock to lock to do this, and very rapidly. Had this happen many times, and never have hit anything. And every winter when I lived in northern Utah, with the first snow I would take my car out on an empty street and intentionally practice sliding and controlling. Extra safety if the street has curbs. Problem with most people is they don't know what to do when something loke your experience happens. You can read about what to do, but only practice will prepare you for the real thing.

Answer 5

In short. NO. Sounds like you hit "Black ice". The road iced over the area you were on. Its not always obvious to see. Game over

Answer 6

You should have stayed home.

Answer 7

if you would have accelerated more then you would have cause the accident but the most important thing sounds like that you are okay and alive to see another accident not to be funny or anything you life is the most important thing. sounds like there was nothing you could do to prevent that especially if there was snow out there you did the right thing but like i say you're still alive so thats what matters the most

Answer 8

its too late when you start sliding. What you can do is not make it worse by jerking the wheel or slamming the brakes. You could have driven slower maybe. I hydroplaned a couple months ago and it happened in the split of a second and i couldnt do anything. i was only going 53mph

Answer 9

Yes, if you had accelarated, you would have simply driven on out of the skid, slowing down just made the wheels slippier on the snowy surface, always best to drive right on out of a skid.

Answer 10

I would have accelerated lightly, and turned into the direction that the car was beginning to turn into, to regain control, and only then begin to straighten up. There are driving courses which cover these problems, and I believe that everyone should take a defensive driving course, before getting a driver's licence.

Answer 11

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You could have stayed home that day.

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Answer 12

u need to travel at lower speeds  when theres ice on the road and u can turn the wheel the oppisite direction of the slide to correct it

Answer 13

nothing you can really do when that happens

Answer 14

next time realize your on ice, and slow down.........