Definition - What does Standstill Accident mean?
A standstill accident refers to a type of accident that involves a front or rear bumper collision between vehicles while they're in a static position (motionless) when commuting between destinations. Routine traffic signals (i.e., a red light) or dense traffic jams are often where standstill accidents occur; however, other factors such as distracted driving (i.e., cell phone use), for example, may serve as culprits in standstill accidents.
SureHire explains Standstill Accident
Motorists must utilize defensive driving techniques and remain alert to their surroundings and other drivers on the road, even when the car is not in motion, in order to mitigate the incidence rate against collisions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underlines a mass percentage of fatalities linked to vehicular accidents, drawing a parallel of safe driving habits that translate both to moving vehicles as well as traffic at a standstill. The basis for this evidence often stems from atmospheric conditions (i.e. rain/snow) acting as a catalyst for residual oil deposits to become slick, reducing the surface-to-traction ratio for motorists to apply their brakes, leading to a standstill accident.
Since worksite commuting is a frequent occurrence for many employees, and long commutes may tempt you to lose your focus, it is pivotal to maintain a neutral space, roughly the equivalent of a vehicle’s length between the front-and-rear bumpers of drivers on the road to allow for a safe braking distance. Regular maintenance inspections to ensure brakes remain in sound condition can help buffer the risks against causing standstill accidents, resulting in liabilities.