Avoiding Car Accidents: Do You Hit the Brakes or Swerve?

When you encounter an obstacle on the road in front of you, should you swerve to avoid an accident, or should you brake hard? A quick Google search shows that many drivers are keen to know how to avoid car accidents and whether swerving or braking is best. Opinions vary, though it’s clear that drivers must be able to make quick decisions to safely navigate rapidly unfolding traffic changes.

At Wawanesa, we’re committed to keeping our drivers safe and insured. Let’s explore how to avoid car crashes and the conditions that make swerving or braking your safest option.

Understanding the Risks

When researching how to avoid car accidents, you’ll find many recommendations urging drivers to avoid swerving whenever possible. Unless you’re a professional driver — there’s a legitimate fear you’ll swerve to avoid one obstruction and hit something else in the process. However, according to some safety experts, swerving is a critical defensive driving technique and can be learned by enrolling in a defensive driving course. This course is sometimes known as a “mature driving course” designed for drivers aged 55 or older to learn how to avoid traffic accidents.

Pro-tip: Besides making you a safer driver, a mature driving course could earn you a discount on your auto insurance.

Stepping on the brakes to avoid accidents while driving can also be dangerous if done too hard when roads are slick or in heavy traffic. So, should you swerve to avoid an accident or brake? Statistics show that swerving accounts for 2.1 percent of the fatal accidents reported in 2021, with another 3 percent attributed to overcorrecting steering, a common result of swerving. We don’t have hard numbers on fatal accidents caused by sudden braking. However, 7.5 percent of such accidents are rear-end collisions — accidents most frequently caused by abrupt braking.

There is no single correct answer to whether you should swerve to avoid an accident or brake. This is because the safest strategy will depend on various factors, such as your skill behind the wheel, your brakes, road conditions, traffic volume, and your driving speed. We’ll explore these circumstances in greater detail.

So, how do you avoid car accidents with swerving or braking? The one thing most professionals agree on is to avoid swerving and braking at the same time. Each of these actions relies on traction from your tires. If you attempt both simultaneously, you may end up skidding, which can put you in more danger. However, if you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and can brake gently, you’ll be more likely to maintain control of your vehicle. Again, your success here depends on your vehicle, situation, and experience.

When to Brake

Let’s consider the circumstances when braking is the best way to avoid accidents while driving.

Situations where braking is the safer option for how to avoid car accidents include:

• Straight roads with clear visibility: Braking is generally the safest choice on straight roads with clear traffic visibility. Begin braking as soon as you recognize it’s necessary to give the drivers behind you as much notice as possible. This is essential to prevent a rear-end collision.
• Presence of pedestrians or cyclists: Pedestrians and cyclists are far slower than cars and far more vulnerable in case of collision. Braking to avoid running into a pedestrian places your car between the person and other vehicles, shielding them from injury.
• Low-speed scenarios: When driving at low speeds, such as in residential areas, parking lots, or in heavy traffic, braking is the best way to avoid car accidents. Driving slowly allows you to quickly and safely bring your car to a complete stop. Swerving, however, can cause accidents by confusing other driver.

Techniques for effective braking to avoid a collision include:

• Avoid tailgating: Following too closely is a common cause of rear-end collisions. Always leave ample space between your vehicle and the one in front to allow for safe stopping distances.
• Proper use of anti-lock braking systems (ABS): Modern cars are equipped with anti-lock braking (ABS), which prevents the wheels from locking up during hard braking, allowing you to maintain steering control. If you have ABS, apply firm and continuous pressure to the brakes. Avoid pumping the brakes. ABS automatically adjusts your braking force to prevent a skid.
• Avoiding sudden, hard braking: Whenever possible, avoid hitting the brakes too heavily or suddenly. This is the most common cause of rear-end collisions. Remain alert to traffic conditions around you, and begin braking early, decelerating smoothly. This communicates your intentions to other drivers and prolongs the life of your brakes.

When to Swerve

Of course, sometimes, you should swerve to avoid an accident. If swerving is warranted, it should always be done as slowly and carefully as possible. The following are a few scenarios you may encounter where swerving could be necessary:

• Potholes: Sometimes they take you by surprise — especially if you’re driving fast. If the way is clear, try to swerve around potholes, as they can cause major damage to your tires.
• Electrical wires: Your vehicle’s tires should insulate you from the current, but live wires are still dangerous, so swerving to avoid touching them can be the safest solution.
• Fallen trees: If there’s room to go around the obstruction, go for it — but be mindful of other vehicles, hidden obstacles, or deep puddles.
• Cars turning left: If the vehicle in front of you is waiting for a break in oncoming traffic to turn left, this is an acceptable time to go around, though it’s not technically a “swerve.”
• Animals on the road: Your strategy will depend on the animal’s size. If it’s a small creature, try braking if you can stay on course. Colliding with a large animal, such as a deer, could injure you and seriously damage your car, so try to avoid hitting the animal if you can swerve safely.

When faced with a scenario in which you must swerve, techniques for safely doing so to avoid a collision include:

• Checking for open lanes before swerving: If there’s an open lane ahead of you or a road shoulder you can aim for, swerving to avoid accidents while driving is a good choice. Remain alert to the conditions around you to make these decisions on the fly.
• Avoiding oversteering or losing control: Don’t panic. Avoid jerking the steering wheel, and don’t immediately return to your lane. Oversteering and overcorrecting can cause your car to skid. Straighten the wheel, and if it’s safe to continue in your new direction, do so. Calmly return to your lane if necessary.
• Stay alert and drive defensively: Defensive driving emphasizes being alert to other drivers and the road conditions. Drivers remain alert, anticipating potential hazards, and responding safely and effectively. Consider these essential techniques:
• Leave early and remain watchful for unexpected developments
• Learn to stop speeding
• Remain aware of other drivers so you can respond to any sudden changes
• Respect other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians
• Be mindful of the road conditions and weather
• Avoid distractions like cell phones, texting, and eating

Combining Braking and Swerving

Certain scenarios exist where you may need to brake and swerve to avoid car accidents. For example, unexpected obstacles in the road, such as debris, an animal, or a stalled vehicle, may require you to first brake to reduce your speed and then swerve around the obstacle.

In addition, situations requiring quick reflexes and decision-making are crucial in high-speed or high-traffic scenarios. For instance, if a vehicle suddenly stops in front of you or another car veers into your lane, braking to reduce speed and swerving to avoid impact may be the best course of action.

Tips for executing smooth braking and swerving include

• Training for emergency maneuvers: All drivers can benefit from a defensive driving course that emphasizes remaining alert and undistracted while driving. Many classes incorporate helpful exercises for practicing emergency braking and controlled swerving.
• Maintaining a safe driving speed and distance: Always drive at a safe speed for the prevailing road conditions while allowing sufficient space between your vehicle and the one ahead to enable you to stop safely.
• Importance of vehicle stability control systems: Many modern cars have electronic stability control (ESC) systems that help maintain control during extreme maneuvers. Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s ECS system and ensure it’s activated.

Vehicle Safety Features

Car manufacturers are also concerned with how to avoid car accidents. There have been several safety features developed that make driving safer:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS): ABS prevents your car’s wheels from locking up during hard braking while optimizing the braking force applied to each wheel.
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC): ECS enhances your vehicle’s stability by detecting and reducing skidding or a loss of control.
• Collision Avoidance Systems: Some cars can detect obstacles, other vehicles, and pedestrians and automatically apply brakes to avoid a collision.

Advanced safety mechanisms like these enhance a driver’s ability to make rapid decisions during critical situations.

Wawanesa is committed to our clients’ safety. Not only do we educate our drivers on safety programs, but we also provide incentives like auto insurance discounts for defensive driving courses and vehicle safety features.

Additional Tips to Avoid a Car Accident

Learning how to avoid car accidents is critical for any driver. Follow the general road safety tips to help keep you safe and avoid an accident while driving:

1. Observe the correct speed for road conditions: If you’re driving at night or during bad weather, slow down. The slower you’re traveling, the more time you’ll have to react to anything untoward happening around you. Driving at lower speeds also translates to less severe outcomes if a collision is unavoidable. And good drivers observe the posted speed limit even when conditions are good.
   
   According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding has been responsible for approximately one-third of all accident fatalities over the past twenty years.
2. Avoid distractions: As a society, we are more distracted than ever before — on and off the road. While multitasking at your desk can be unproductive, trying to do multiple things while you’re behind the wheel can be deadly. The only task you should be doing when you’re driving is…driving. Texting, speaking on the phone, eating, retrieving fallen items, and putting on makeup can all result in accidents.
3. Monitor Road Conditions: Wet, icy, or uneven road surfaces can affect your car's braking efficiency. Drive cautiously in adverse conditions and increase your following distance to allow for more stopping time.
4. Use Turn Signals: Always use your turn signals to let other drivers know your intentions, whether you're turning or changing lanes.
5. Regularly Maintain Your Brakes: Ensure that your brakes are in good working order by having them inspected regularly. Worn or faulty brakes can compromise your ability to stop quickly and safely.
6. Anticipate Traffic Flow: Pay attention to the flow of traffic and anticipate the actions of the drivers around you. Being aware of potential hazards ahead, such as sudden stops or lane changes, can help you react quickly and brake smoothly.
7. Keep Your Foot Ready: In heavy traffic or urban areas, keep your foot lightly hovering over the brake pedal, ready to apply pressure if needed. This technique, known as "cover braking," can reduce your reaction time in case of sudden stops.
8. Use extra care at intersections: More than half of all injury crashes happen at intersections. Looking both ways to avoid red-light runners, stopping on yellow, and never changing lanes in the middle of an intersection are just a few techniques that can keep you safe while navigating an intersection.

Learning how to avoid car accidents involves so many variables. But certain things remain constant: Be vigilant, take your time, use extra care in extreme conditions, and keep your cool when faced with unexpected situations. We can all do more to avoid accidents while driving. Continue to strive to stay informed, take a defensive driving course, and dump those distractions. This type of behavior will go a long way to keeping you and yours safe on the roads.

Protect Yourself with Wawanesa Car Insurance

Accidents can still happen despite your best efforts. Ensure you’re covered with Wawanesa Car Insurance. Our affordable plans offer peace of mind and protection when you need it most. Get a quote today!