As a car driver, you don’t expect to have to deal with emergencies on the road. In fact, it’s likely that you won’t ever have to deal with any sudden emergencies when you’re driving.
That doesn’t mean you should be complacent. You need to be aware of how to deal with certain situations should they arise. Panic and fear can cause untrained people to perform some bad maneuvers. Sometimes, the results of those maneuvers can be fatal.
Are you worried about how you might handle an emergency situation on the road? If so, this blog post is for you. Because in it, you will learn how to tackle many challenging situations when you’re driving your car. Here is what you need to know.
Tire blowouts
One of the most-common motoring emergencies you are likely to face is a tire blowout. There are many reasons why tires blow during a car journey. For instance, tires might get worn and have the steel belts showing through the rubber.
They might be too old, and blow just from age. David from www.rrg-group.com recommends changing your tires every five years. Or even sooner if they have become worn. Regular checks on your tires will minimise the risk of your tires blowing on the road.
But should the worst happen, here are some simple steps to help you deal with the situation:
1 – Speed up. Most people think you should brake immediately, but this will put your car out of control. The best thing to do is give a couple of short bursts on the gas pedal. Doing so will help you regain control of the car and drive in a straight line;
2 – Coast. As long as you have the space ahead of you to do so, coast down the road until you reach a speed of 30 mph;
3 – Pull over. Drive on the shoulder of the road, and brake when you are travelling at ten mph or less.
You can then change your tire when it is safe to do so. You could also call a recovery service and have them change the tire for you if you feel it is too dangerous to do it yourself.
The gas pedal is stuck
I hope you never have to deal with this one as it’s quite a scary prospect to deal with! But if you find yourself driving with a stuck gas pedal, you need to bring your car to a stop immediately!
In some cases, floor mats or other objects can get stuck between the the gas pedal and the floor. Check (feel) for obstructions. If you are sure that your gas pedal is stuck, put your car into neutral.
You won’t damage the engine because of the rev limiter. Next, pull over by coasting to the shoulder of the road and braking. Finally, switch your ignition off.
If you worry that your engine is getting damaged, switch the ignition off when in neutral. Bear in mind that your brakes won’t have servo assistance, so you will need to push the brake pedal quite hard!
Sudden acceleration
Does your engine increase speed of its own accord? The cause might be down to the idle control valve. If your car surges forward during normal driving, use the tips above to pull over when it is safe to do so.
