Report (an incident report covering a vehicle accident) - Essay Example

The roadway has no median or barrier between the eastbound and westbound lanes on the four lane street, deep ditches on both sides of the road, and the posted speed limit is 40 MPH. Weather conditions at the time of the incident were overcast, windy, and rainy; and the road was wet from the rain. Further, it also had a sheet of water draining across the road from the hill's runoff. Traffic was relatively heavy in both directions, as it was just after rush hour. A red mini-van (Vehicle 2) was driving westbound, and was thus coming downhill into a moderate left hand curve.

At point where the curve was the sharpest, Vehicle 1 began a sideways slide that the driver was unable to prevent. The car, which was out of the driver's control at that point, went into the lanes occupied by the oncoming traffic. Vehicle 2 was unable to slow down in time to avoid hitting Vehicle 1, nor was there room for Vehicle 2 to maneuver out of its oncoming path. Accordingly, the front of Vehicle 2 struck the driver-side door of Vehicle 1, sending Vehicle 1 off of the roadway and down into the ditch on the left side of the roadway.

Police and paramedic units were called, as was a rescue unit, and the driver of Vehicle 1 had to be cut out of the small car. The driver of Vehicle 1 sustained severe injuries, while the other driver suffered only minor ones. According to witnesses and a report on the accident, both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. Some witnesses said that Vehicle 1 was speeding, while others claimed that Vehicle 2 was coming down the hill too fast. The driver of Vehicle 1 was taken to the hospital via ambulance, and the other driver chose to decline medical attention.

Causes of Incident The actual accident was caused by several different factors, with other roadway issues contributing to the severity of the injuries sustained by the driver of Vehicle 1. The most likely direct cause of the accident was that both drivers were operating at speeds too high for the road conditions at that time. During periods of rain and wet roadways, it is easy to lose control of the vehicle; especially on curves (Skidding and Hydroplaning in Rainy Conditions). The driver of Vehicle 1 was going too fast to prevent the car from skidding on the wet pavement, and the driver of the second vehicle was driving too fast to avoid the collision.

Had both drivers been operating their vehicles at slower speeds, the accident could have been avoided. The second direct cause of the accident was the condition of the tires on Vehicle 1. Subsequent review of the vehicle showed that the tread depth on the tires was not within safe limits. This tread wear decreases a driver's ability to control the vehicle and increases the likelihood of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between the tire and the road, causing the vehicle to no longer respond to the control inputs of the driver (Hydroplaning (road vehicle).

The less tread a tire has on the road, the more likely this layer of water is to form. If Vehicle 1 had tires with proper tread, the likelihood of this accident occurring would have been much less. Other issues that were