- Dashcam footage from the Vanderbijlpark crash has renewed national concern about how drivers respond in head-on emergencies.
- MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert explains why instinct often leads drivers into greater danger.
- Defensive driving techniques could mean the difference between life and death in similar situations.
The release of dashcam footage of the Vanderbijlpark crash that claimed the lives of 14 schoolchildren stirred grief, anger, and widespread speculation. Beyond the shock of the images, a sobering question now confronts many motorists: what should you do if you suddenly face an oncoming vehicle in your lane, seconds from impact?
According to MasterDrive chief executive Eugene Herbert, a possible head-on collision is not a remote or rare risk, but something every defensive driver should continuously anticipate. “Understand and accept that mistakes or bad decisions will be made on the road by others,” Herbert says. “Drivers must always be prepared for a potential head-on collision and respond in a manner that minimises risk for all road users. While nothing can guarantee complete safety, there are recommended steps that can reduce harm in the critical moments before a head-on collision.”
The Vanderbijlpark crash dashcam footage has brought this reality into painful focus, especially for families who entrusted their children to scholar transport vehicles and now mourn lives lost far too soon.
Instinct versus training in the moment of danger
Herbert explains that there are techniques that can either reduce the impact of a crash or limit injuries and fatalities when a head-on collision becomes unavoidable. The difficulty, he says, is that these techniques often clash directly with human instinct.
“These techniques, however, are often at ‘war’ with your instinctual reaction, which is often not the safest course of action,” he notes. “Choosing the right reaction depends on awareness of what may happen during a potential head-on collision and how to respond appropriately. This will make a war between instinct and a trained reaction, significantly less.”
In one of the most common and deadly scenarios, a vehicle overtakes in the wrong lane and suddenly appears directly ahead. Instinct frequently pushes the driver in the correct lane to swerve right into the open space. Yet Herbert warns this is precisely how many fatal crashes occur. The overtaking driver often realises their mistake at the same moment and moves back into the same lane, leaving both vehicles on a collision course. The safer response, he explains, is almost always to steer left, even onto the shoulder, rather than entering the right-hand lane.
Another powerful instinct is fixation. When a driver stares directly at the oncoming vehicle, the hands unconsciously guide the car toward the very danger they hope to avoid. Herbert advises that once the risk is identified, drivers must deliberately look away from the threat and focus instead on the safest escape path.
Speed control presents a further challenge. Slamming on brakes, particularly in vehicles without ABS, often leads to locked wheels and loss of control. Herbert recommends easing off the accelerator and applying brakes progressively, reducing speed in a controlled manner before attempting to manoeuvre.
Even when obstacles line the roadside, such as trees, poles or ditches, Herbert maintains that steering left remains the lesser danger. “Aim to hit obstacles from the side in a glancing blow rather than a full-frontal crash,” he advises, noting that a direct head-on impact almost always carries the highest risk of fatal injury.
Calls for training after young lives are lost
MasterDrive has extended heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragic scholar transport collision earlier this week. “We support the calls from society and proposals from government for scholar transport drivers to undertake greater training. This is the first step in preventing needless loss of young, innocent lives on our roads,” Herbert says.
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