Seven SUV Rollover Tips

SUVs are notoriously known in the automobileare more likely on rural roads, simply because
industry for being quick to get into rolloverpotholes are more common. If you're driving on a
accidents. While this is not a totally unfoundeddirt road or road that rarely gets repaired after
claim, it is also important to note that SUVthe winter, having an SUV can prevent you from
rollovers typically don't happen because ofsticking in the mud, but at the same time, a
manufacturer defects or design flaws' theypothole can cause you to become off balance
happen because drivers are dangerous in a vehicleand, in effect cause an SUV rollover. Remember
that is already prone to rollovers under certainthat driving for the road conditions also includes
conditions.the weather. If it's raining, snowing, or foggy, slow
But how's a driver to stay safe? SUV rolloversdown.
happen more commonly than rollovers in other5. Avoid panicking when steering. The common
vehicles because, essentially, SUVs are top heavy.response to losing control is to over-steer in
There's nothing you can really do to change that,attempts to regain control. Don't panic and fall into
short of not buying an SUV, but there are tipsthis trap! You'll only make matters much worse.
you can use to stay safe from SUV rollover noInstead, grab the wheel firmly and try to keep
matter what kind of vehicle you drive. Takethe vehicle going in a straight path, as you pump
these tips to heart, they could very well savethe brakes to slow. When you panic and steer
your life.sharply, it has the same effects of going around a
1. You can avoid SUV rollovers by choosing aturn too quickly, and SUV rollovers are common.
smart SUV. Know what you're buying before you6. Keep your car in tip-top shape if you want to
buy it! Check out consumer reports, guides, andavoid SUV rollover. Most importantly, check your
rollover ratings. In general, SUV rollovers are mosttire pressure. If one tire is running low on air, this
likely to happen with vehicles that are tall andwill not only cause efficiency problems, but will
"skinny." The best SUVs to buy when you'realso make your SUV be prone to rollover. Keep in
hoping to prevent rollover are the ones that havemind also that ESC systems are now available to
a father distance between the tires in the back.upgrade your SUV.
2. The second tip, which you cannot overlook, isThis kind of a system monitors your vehicle and
to drive your SUV "like an SUV". If you're used toyour movements to prevent rollover. If you carry
driving a car, or even a truck or van, it is trickythings in your SUV, make sure that these things
to jump into an SUV and take off. You can't takeare distributed evenly according to weight.
curves as quickly in an SUV. If you try, rollover isCentrifugal force plays a huge roll in SUV rollovers,
likely. Before you speed down the highway, takeso check your loaded items often.
a few days or weeks to learn the feel of your7. Wear your seatbelt. Okay, this isn't exactly a
SUV's steering, brakes, acceleration, and so on.way to prevent SUV rollovers, but it is a way to
3. When dealing with an SUV, drive safely. This is,prevent death if your SUV should happen to
of course, the best tip to use when drivingrollover, for whatever reason. More fatalities
anything, but it is important to note that mostoccur because the driver or passenger was
SUV rollovers only happen when the SUV goesthrown completely or partially out of the SUV as
off of the main road.it rolled, and reports show that buckling up can
If you're chatting on your cell phone, doing yourreduce your risk of death when in an SUV
makeup in the car, or tending to yelling children inrollover by up to 75%.
the backseat, it is much more likely that you'll runBe safe, be smart, and if you do happen to
off of the road, where you'll hit a ditch, curb,become involved with an SUV rollover, which can
bump, or obstacle and be thrown head over heels.happen to even the best drivers, contact a
4. To go hand-in-hand with the last tip, drivelawyer to learn about your legal rights.
according to the road conditions. SUV rollovers