A woman and her four-month-old niece were killed in an Osceola County accident in late January. The woman, her sister, a one-year-old and the infant were driving a Nissan Altima east along State Road 60. The driver pulled out into the westbound lane to pass another car, when they hit a Mazda SUV traveling westbound. The Altima went off the road and rolled over, where the driver and the baby were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver’s adult sister and the one-year-old child survived. The driver of the Mazda was seriously injured, but in stable condition.
Head-on collisions are particularly deadly. In 2020, there were over 3,000 fatal crashes in Florida alone.
Avoiding head-on vehicle collisions
Here’s how you can prevent head-on crashes:
- Know the passing laws: In this accident, the Altima driver likely miscalculated when passing another vehicle. If you’re passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, Florida law requires drivers to “give an appropriate signal …[then] pass to the left thereof at a safe distance, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.”
- Reduce your speed: Speeding not only causes accidents, but driving fast gives you less time to react if someone drives into your lane. Follow speed limits to ensure you can take appropriate action.
- Stay to the right: Drive close to the right side of your lane. This lessens the likelihood that you’ll get too close to oncoming traffic.
- Stay alert and aware: Never drive when you’re under the influence or drowsy. Avoid distractions, and keep your attention on the road and cars ahead of you.
- Drive off the road: If you have to make the choice between hitting someone head-on or driving off the left side of the road while passing, driving off the road is usually safer. Do not jerk the steering wheel or slam on your brakes.
If you’ve been injured in a head-on car accident, contact an experienced Sarasota, FL auto accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.