What is a possible last second strategy for avoiding a head-on crash?

Hitting something soft rather than hard is considered a viable strategy in a last-second scenario aimed at avoiding a head-on crash because it minimizes the potential for severe injury or damage. In a collision, the nature of the object you collide with impacts the forces involved. Soft objects, such as bushes, trees with low trunks, or other vehicles that are less rigidly constructed, provide more 'give' during the impact. This can reduce the severity of the crash by absorbing some of the energy from the collision.

In contrast, striking something hard, such as a concrete wall or another vehicle, results in a higher likelihood of serious injury or catastrophic damage due to the rigid nature and the higher energy transfer during a collision. Increasing speed can worsen the impact force and reduce the driver's ability to steer effectively away from the collision path. Steering directly into the obstacle can lead to a more severe crash and is not a viable strategy, as it does not avoid the collision.

By choosing to aim for a softer object, a driver may have a better chance of mitigating the impact and potentially preserving their own safety.