What are the most common types of traffic crashes?

Understanding the types of traffic crashes is essential for effective investigation and prevention efforts. The most common types of traffic crashes typically include rear-end collisions, side-impact crashes, and head-on collisions, as suggested in the correct choice.

Rear-end collisions often occur due to sudden stops or distractions, making them the most frequent type of crash on roadways. Side-impact crashes, sometimes referred to as T-bone collisions, generally happen at intersections where one vehicle strikes the side of another, and they can lead to severe consequences for occupants due to the lack of protective barriers. Head-on collisions involve vehicles traveling toward each other and can be particularly devastating due to the combined speed of both vehicles at the moment of impact.

The other options do reflect certain types of crashes but do not encompass the broader category of typical incidents that occur frequently on roadways. Single-vehicle accidents and pedestrian incidents certainly occur, but they are not as prevalent as the types mentioned in the correct answer. Beyond that, crashes involving trucks and bicycles or those occurring solely at intersections also represent narrower subsets of traffic incidents rather than the most common types encountered overall.