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Of all the insurance claims, rear-end collisions are the most common. We’ve probably all been involved in an accident at one time or another where someone has driven into the back of us, or we have driven into the back of someone else. All it takes is for you to take your eyes off the road for a second, and before you know it you have a couple of damaged cars on your hands. The car repair bills caused by small impacts cost big money, and even if you are insured it’s still going to cost you. That sinking feeling when we collide with another car is a horrible one, so in this article we are going to tell you how to avoid this situation:

Pay Attention

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It’s really easy to get distracted on the road. Perhaps you are checking your phone, reprogramming your satnav or changing the station on the radio. There are millions of things that can distract us when we are driving, so make sure you limit the amount of distractions in your car. Keep your phone in the glove box, make sure your satnav is programmed before you set out, and have radio controls fitted to your steering wheel so that you can operate the stereo from there. If you really need to check your phone or change the satnav then pull over to a safe place. This may all sound like common sense, but most rear-end collisions are caused by something as small as checking a phone.

Indicate Your Intentions

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You should always check that all of the lights and bulbs in your car are working as they should be before you set out on a journey. If your indicators are out then you will confuse other drivers on the road, and this often leads to crashes and hefty repair bills. When you are driving, make sure you keep a good distance between you and the car in front of you, so that if they suddenly stop then you have the time to do the same. If the weather is wet this is particularly important as your stopping distances will be much longer. Always try and read the road and see what is going on ahead – the sooner you spot hazards on the road the more likely you will be to avoid them.

Brake Well

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Whenever you are braking, try to do it slowly and carefully. This will give the driver behind you far more notice that you are stopping. If you slam the breaks on every time then not only will you do damage to your brakes (which will then have to be replaced sooner) but you will also increase your chances of being driven into by somebody. Try and tap the brakes a couple of times before you brake for good as this will give the driver behind you more notice.

If somebody behind you is tailgating you then by far the best option is to pull over and let them past – life is too short. You should do anything you can to avoid a collision and therefore avoid costly repairs bills to your car and to others.