North Carolina DMV Practice Test

What is the most frequent type of accident on an interstate highway?

1. A rear end collision

2. A head-on collision

3. A side-swipe collision

4. A single vehicle accident

The correct answer is: A rear end collision

The most frequent type of accident on an interstate highway is a rear-end collision. This type of accident typically occurs due to a combination of high traffic volumes and speed, where vehicles are traveling close together at highway speeds. Drivers may not maintain sufficient following distance, especially in heavy traffic scenarios, which can lead to a situation where one vehicle fails to stop in time and strikes the vehicle in front of it. Distractions, sudden stops, and the flow of traffic can all contribute to the likelihood of a rear-end collision occurring more frequently than other types of accidents. While head-on collisions and side-swipe collisions can also occur on interstate highways, they happen less frequently due to the design of these roads which generally maintains lanes of traffic that are separated. Single vehicle accidents, although not uncommon, typically involve a car leaving the roadway, which is a distinct scenario compared to the more common interactions between vehicles in heavy traffic.