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Head On

Head-on crashes are generally the most severe of all vehicle crash types. The combined mass and speed of vehicles often result in serious or fatal consequences for vehicle occupants.

Even in the most modern cars, the chances of surviving a head-on crash at speeds above 70 km/h are greatly reduced. For older vehicles, or in collisions involving vehicles of different size, surviving such a crash is less likely at far lower speeds.

This crash type occurs when one vehicle leaves its path and comes into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

Often this type of crash results from a steering wheel overcorrection, e.g. a driver veers to the roadside, instinctively turns the steering wheel to return to the road and travels across the carriageway. Therefore, ways to treat this crash type include treatments in the centre of the road, but also at the side. The chance of over-steering will be increased if there is a drop off between the road and the roadside or shoulder (an ‘edge drop’), making it more difficult to return to the roadway. Excessive drop offs should be avoided.

Typical factors which may add to head-on crash risk include:

Name Cost rating Effectiveness
Additional Lane High 25 – 40%
Central Hatching Low 10 – 25%
Central Turning Lane Full Length Low 10 – 25%
Delineation Low 10 – 25%
Duplication High 25 – 40%
Intersection – Delineation Low 10 – 25%
Intersection – Grade Separation High 25 – 40%
Lane Widening Medium to High 25 – 40%
Median Barrier Medium to High 60% or more
One Way Network Medium 25 – 40%
Realignment – Horizontal High 25 – 40%
Realignment – Vertical High 10 – 25%
Rumble Strips Low 10 – 25%
Paved Shoulder Medium 25 – 40%
Speed Management Medium 25 – 40%
Traffic Calming Medium to High 25 – 40%

Related Images

  • A head on crash in Argentina. Image credit: Getty Images
  • Head on diagram (DCA 201)
  • Vehicle occupant Star Ratings by road user type based on a 358,000km sample of roads across 54 countries. Image credit: iRAP
  • Motorcyclist Star Ratings by road user type based on a 358,000km sample of roads across 54 countries. Image credit: iRAP
  • Showing wide centreline treatment incorporating median rumble strips, Old Bruce Highway, Australia. Image credit: Unknown
  • The aftermath of a head on crash in Bangladesh. Image credit: Greg Smith
  • The results of a head-on crash. Image credit: iStock
  • Thirteen primary school teachers were killed instantly when this minibus slammed into an oncoming truck on an undivided highway, South Africa. Image credit: North West Provincial Government
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