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2 Startling Car Emergencies: Coping With Potential Disaster

Most of us, myself included, usually take driving for granted. Even if we’ve been involved in a traffic accident before, our tendency is to forget about it, comforted by the hope that nothing like that will ever happen to us again. In truth, at some point in your life, there’s a good chance it will. You’ll probably find yourself in an emergency situation where quick thinking is the only thing standing between you and potential disaster on the road. Below, I’ll describe 2 such emergencies and how you should react when you’re confronted with them.

#1 – Impending Collision Ahead

Often, through no fault of your own, you’ll be forced to stop your car abruptly to avoid colliding with an object in front of you (i.e. another vehicle, pedestrian, wall, etc.). If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, slam the pedal down as if you’re trying to push it through the floorboard. Don’t let up on the pedal; keep it pressed firmly to the floor until you’ve completely stopped your vehicle.

If your car doesn’t have anti-lock brakes, press firmly on the brake pedal, but don’t allow your tires to lock. That only leads to skidding and loss of control. The trick is to only use the brakes enough to bring the tires to the brink of stopping, but not beyond.

#2 – Blowing Out A Tire

Imagine driving on the highway when one of your tires blows out. What is your first instinct? If you’re like most motorists, you’ll hit the brakes and try to pull to the side to get out of the way of other drivers. That’s a bad idea. If the blown tire is at the rear of your vehicle, turning the steering wheel will rip control from your hands.

Instead, you should keep your foot on the gas and keep the steering wheel straight. After 4 or 5 seconds, let up on the gas. Once you’re moving at approximately 30 or 35 mph, put your turn indicator light on and slowly direct your car to the side of the useless tire. It’s important that you don’t press your brake pedal unless you absolutely must. Just coast.

Dealing With Surprises

Aviation experts often say that airline pilots are well-paid not just for their ability to fly commercial planes, but their quick thinking and decision-making skills. In the event of an emergency, the airline can count upon them to react coolly and decisively. Driving, especially at high speeds, can present emergencies that require the same type of adept reaction. In an upcoming column, I’ll be covering a few more driving circumstances in which your safety depends upon your level of preparation. Stay tuned.

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