How to Survive a Multi Car Pileup

Limiting Your Chances of Being in a Multi-Car Pileup

1. 
   Pick travel conditions wisely. Bad weather, traffic, and road conditions impact the likelihood of a pileup.

   1. Avoid driving on slippery wet, icy or snowy roads.
   2. Try to avoid travel on highways or motorways at peak seasonal travel times.
   3. Don't drive in white-out blizzard conditions, when it is foggy, when it's raining very heavily, or when there are very high winds.
   4. Avoid driving in areas that regularly experience bush fires, mudslides or any other natural disasters.
2. 
   Drive safely. Leave room in front of you for cars and allow faster drivers to overtake you. Stick to the speed limit but drive to the conditions; it's not always safe to drive at the speed limit. Use your headlights, keep your car in good condition, and obey road signs.
3. 
   Wear your seat belt whenever you are driving. You are legally required to do this in many countries, but you should do this even if not legally required to do so.

   1. Ensure that everyone else in the vehicle is wearing their seat belt. Even if you are wearing your seat belt, someone else who is not wearing their seat belt could be thrown into you in a collision and cause death or serious injury.
4. 
   Do not lean against the dashboard. In a collision, the airbags will inflate. When airbags inflate, they shoot out so fast that anyone leaning against the dashboard could be thrown backwards and seriously injured or killed.
5. 
   Ensure that the airbags are turned on, however, unless there is a rear-facing child seat fitted in the front passenger seat you should keep them on. (The front seat position for child seats is illegal in many places.) Regardless of legality, rear-facing child seats should always be fitted in the rear of the car if possible.
6. 
   Do not lean against the sides of the car if there are side/curtain airbags. This is dangerous for the same reasons it is dangerous to lean against the dashboard.
7. 
   Avoid placing heavy objects on the rear seats or parcel shelf. These are extremely dangerous if sent flying in a collision. If you have heavy objects, place them in the trunk or tie them down securely so that they cannot move if impacted.