Roadside Safety to Prevent Accidents
Posted by
Christina MedlinJuly 16, 2007 9:15 AMFour people were killed when an SUV hit a disabled car. The family stood on the side of the two-lane bypass as they loaded the car onto the trailer in Elon, NC. Of the 5 people, Larry Wayne Isley Jr. was the only to survive with broken ribs. The other four were killed when an Isuzu sport utility vehicle driven by Robin Michelle Stanfield ran off the side of the road, rolling over and hitting them. Killed were Graham residents Freddie Coulter, 55, and Sandra Coulter, 51; Isley's mother, Mildred "Sissy" Isley, 57; and Michael Todd King, 43, of Swepsonville. Stanfield's Isuzu veered right and off the road as it approached the truck and trailer. Its right wheels rode up the trailer, scraping the Cougar and breaking the trailer's hitch. The SUV rolled and hit the Coulters, King, and Mildred Isley.
Tips for car emergencies:
• Know your limitations and plan accordingly. If you know that, you would be unable to handle even the simplest car emergency, consider a membership in a reliable motor club, and make sure to always have a mobile phone available to call for help.
• Create and maintain a car emergency kit, which should include flares, reflective triangles, flashlights and extra batteries, a tool set, gloves, water and a first aid kit.
• If you experience car trouble, turn on your hazard lights and try to make your way to the shoulder and out of the flow of traffic. Call for help immediately.
• Get as far as you can away from the traffic lanes to give you as much space as possible between you and fast-moving cars. Keep your hazard lights on and open the hood of your car. An open hood is the universal sign of a car in distress, so leave it open even if you are not working on the engine.
• If you have flares or reflective markers, position them beginning at your car and set them at intervals going at least 200 feet in the direction of the traffic that is coming closest to you.
• If there is a safe area outside of the car and farther away from traffic lanes, wait for help outside of the car.
• Never attempt to fix or work on a car that is stuck in a dangerous location.
• If you suspect a fire somewhere in your car, do not attempt to locate the origin of the fire. Get out immediately and make sure all occupants are out. Find a safe place away from the car to call and wait for help.
• If your car becomes disabled after dark, the danger level rises significantly because visibility is poor and drivers are often less alert at night. Take extra care to stay far away from traffic lanes and do not assume that drivers can see you.
For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.