A collision between 2 heavy vehicles can be even more destructive and serious than other accidents. A recent accident which occurred in Queta, Pakistan is an example of how serious heavy vehicle collisions can be. 15 people have died including women and children who were passengers on a bus when it collided with a truck on Saturday. Another 45 people were injured in the head on collision. The accident has been blamed on bad road conditions. This article from Beta.dawn.com explains what happened:

At least 15 people, among them women and children, were killed and 45 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck in the Old Chaman area on Saturday.

Assistant Commissioner Chaman Ismail said: “A bus carrying commuters, including women, was on its way from Quetta to Chaman when it collided… with a truck coming from opposite direction in Old Chaman area.”

Fifteen people died and 45 others suffered injuries, he said. He said dilapidated condition of the road might have caused the accident.

Rescue teams shifted the dead and the injured to Civil Hospital Chaman. Later, some were referred to Quetta where doctors said a number of the injured were in critical condition.

Source: http://beta.dawn.com/news/1018567/15-killed-in-truck-bus-collision

This horrendous picture really does speak louder than words as onlookers gaze at the burnt out bus once carrying predominantly women and children en-route from Quetta to Chaman.

The graphic image, above, is an example of what can happen when vehicles collide. Why do vehicles catch fire after a crash?

Although most vehicle fires begin within the engine component of the vehicle, more than half of the vehicle fires we see occur following a crash. Mostly vehicles catch on fire because of wiring/ electrical problems that could have been caused by the crash.

When driving on a country road or on badly maintained roads in particular you need to be more cautious because the condition of the road is most likely not as good as city road and this in itself can lead to a crash.

A common cause of country crashes is running off the asphalt road surface onto the side of the road and then over-correcting by steering to the right and /or braking too hard. It is easier to veer off the road into other vehicles, objects or even pedestrians. If the wheels of a vehicle leave the asphalt road surface it is best to ease off the accelerator and not brake too harshly while holding the steering wheel firmly with both hands. Then ease the wheels back on to the road surface, being careful of the raised step between the soft edge of the road and the asphalt surface because this can cause the steering wheel to be wrenched out of your hand.