Crash on the L 298: Mini Cooper hits horse trailer!

Crash on the L 298: Mini Cooper hits horse trailer!

On Tuesday morning there was an unsuccessful overtaking maneuver on the L 298, which led to an unfortunate accident. A 53-year-old woman from Celle wanted to overtake an agricultural tractor with her Mini Cooper and misjudged the distance. The driver of a vehicle with a horse trailer was already on the road at this time. To avoid a head-on collision, the horse trailer swerved onto the grass verge. However, there was a side collision between the Mini and the trailer, which resulted in minor injuries to the driver and an estimated property damage of 15,000 euros. There were two horses on the horse trailer, whose condition is currently being checked. Pferde.de reports that...

Overtaking maneuvers are not only tricky in this specific case, but are generally one of the most common causes of serious accidents on country roads. Last year, 2015 accidents due to overtaking were reported in Rhineland-Palatinate, in which 85 people were seriously injured and 9 people unfortunately died. This is also evident in a tragic incident in Weiler near Bingen, where a married couple died in a head-on crash while attempting to overtake. Kirstin Zeidler, the insurer's head of accident research (UDV), warns of the particular danger of overtaking maneuvers, which are often caused by limited visibility and drivers' overestimation of their own confidence. RPR1 explains why overtaking maneuvers are often dangerous.

Overtaking maneuvers: A dangerous affair

The increased speed when overtaking contributes significantly to the severity of such accidents. It is difficult for drivers to correctly assess the traffic situation, especially on narrow or winding roads. In the heated situation of overtaking, you should therefore be careful and closely monitor several factors. Kirstin Zeidler gives important advice: It is advisable to brake hard if you get into a dangerous situation in order to reduce the impact speed and give the overtaking driver more space to sort things out. She also advises only carrying out evasive maneuvers in special cases, for example when the side space is clear and the speed has previously been reduced. Avoid swerving near solid obstacles or trees. Die Zeit also reports on the risks of overtaking.

In view of the risks associated with overtaking maneuvers, the Auto- und Reiseclub Deutschland e.V. (ARCD) also emphasizes the importance of strictly observing overtaking bans, always checking the distance to oncoming vehicles and, if necessary, waiting until the road is clear and safe. A good knack for assessing distance and speed is essential to avoiding serious accidents.