külgkokkupõrkeni

Küljkokkupõrkeni is an Estonian term that translates to "side-on collision" or "t-bone collision" in English. It describes a type of traffic accident where the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another. This typically occurs at intersections when one driver fails to yield the right-of-way, runs a red light or stop sign, or misjudges the speed of oncoming traffic.

These collisions can be particularly dangerous due to the way vehicles are constructed. The side of a car often has less structural reinforcement compared to the front or rear, making occupants more vulnerable to injury. The impact can directly affect the passenger compartment, leading to severe trauma.

The severity of a küljkokkupõrkeni depends on several factors, including the speeds of the vehicles involved, the angle of impact, and the type of vehicles. Larger vehicles like trucks or SUVs can cause more significant damage to smaller cars. Safety features such as side airbags and reinforced door beams are designed to mitigate the impact in these types of accidents. Prevention of küljkokkupõrkeni largely relies on drivers adhering to traffic laws, maintaining situational awareness, and driving defensively, especially when approaching intersections.