Knowing the potential risks of handling an SUV may prevent another unnecessary rollover accident. Here’s what you should be aware of:

Centre of gravity
The extra height that makes an SUV stand out on the road happens to be one of the risk factors. SUVs have a higher centre of gravity than other vehicles, which makes them top heavy. Driving too fast, making a sudden swerve or taking a bend too quickly may cause the SUV to topple over.

What you should do: Drive at a sensible speed, and don’t take corners at high speeds. If you need to take sudden evasive action, brake firmly and keep your foot on the pedal while turning the wheel.

Weight distribution
SUVs are more spacious and can carry a bigger load of people or goods. But the additional weight could also make the SUV more unstable, despite the fallacy that weight adds to stability.

What you should do: Spread the load out as evenly as possible to minimise handling changes in your vehicle. Secure heavy items inside so that they won’t shift around during the journey. Take note of the weight limit if you are using the roof rack. Heavy objects placed on the roof will be above the SUV’s centre of gravity and will increase the likelihood of rollover.

Rural roads and highways
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States has found that rollover accidents more likely on rural roads and highways. This could be due to the poorer road conditions, narrower roads, potholes or crosswinds, which means there is less room for error.

What you should do: Focus on the driving and be cautious negotiating curved roads and potholes. Some SUVs have a softer steering, so maintain a safe speed to avoid running off the road.

Stay calm
The NHTSA advises drivers to avoid extreme panic-like steering if your vehicle veers off the road. Many rollovers happen when a driver wrenches the steering wheel abruptly in an effort to quickly get back on the road.

What you should do: If your SUV goes off the road, gradually reduce the vehicle speed and then ease the vehicle back on to the road when it is safe to do so.

Maintain the tyres
This piece of advice applies to all vehicles, not just SUVs.

What you should do: Keep tyres properly inflated and replace them when they are worn. Balding tyres can lose traction on wet roads, and losing control of the vehicle can cause a rollover.