Negosentro.com | Tips on Dealing with Road Emergencies | The drivers who have never had to deal with road emergencies should know what to do in case something unpredictable happens. Likewise, those who have been through such an ordeal need to use that experience and learn from it. Namely, only a great minority of drivers never have to deal with road emergencies. Chances are all of us will have experienced such an event by the time we end our career as drivers. So, let’s take a look at the most common problems that happen on the road and learn what steps to take.
Blown tires
One of the most dangerous aspects of the tire blowout is the fact that it occurs suddenly, which means drivers are likely to panic at that moment and make a wrong decision, which could even be fatal. What you need to do in this situation is stabilize the steering wheel and guide your car to the side of the road. Avoid jerking the steering wheel in order to overcorrect, since it will make your car spin out. Once you’ve stopped your car safely, get out of it and assess the situation. Replacing a tire is an easy job, but you should make sure that your spare tire is properly inflated before you hit the road.
Shattered windscreen
Another common problem is related to the windscreen, which can often be damaged if you’re driving along poorly paved roads or behind vehicles that that can throw up stones or debris in your direction. Unfortunately, many Australians know what it feels like when such potentially dangerous setbacks occur, both outside cities and within urban areas. Needless to say, you need to have a new windscreen installed as soon as possible. Ideally, you should get in touch with mobile professionals, such as these experts in windscreen replacement from Sydney, who can come to you and replace the windscreen on the spot. If that’s not an option, find a big piece of cloth to cover up ventilator openings to prevent glass from falling in before slowly pushing your damaged windscreen out. Having done that, proceed to drive safely to the nearest workshop to get your windscreen fixed and remember to wear glasses to protect your eyes.
Jammed accelerator
If your accelerator is stuck, quickly put your car to neutral, step on your brakes and steer your car safely to the side of the road. Don’t turn off your engine until you’re off the road, since it may cause your steering to lock. Once off the road, turn off the ignition to prevent engine damage and call for assistance. One of the reasons for this problem is rather trivial. Your floor mat may curl up near the pedal, thus preventing you from using it. On the other hand, the throttle may jam on its own. In that case, mash down hard on the brakes. The brakes should be able to overpower the engine and give your anti-lock brake system a chance to help you retain control of the steering wheel.As you engage the brakes with maximal effort, shift the transmission into neutral. If that’s not helpful, cut off the ignition entirely. The power assist to both steering wheel and brakes will shut down, but you’ll still be able to control them and guide the vehicle to safety.
Faulty headlights
You may not realize that your headlights are not working properly before it’s too late. Driving at night or on poorly lit roads is extremely dangerous and if your battery is weak or the connection is poor. That’s why you should inspect the battery, the connection and the headlights before hitting the road. If, for some reason, you notice that your headlights are not working properly while driving, pull over and turn on your hazard lights or place road hazard markers at a safe distance behind your vehicle. Try replacing the bulb if you have a spare one or call for roadside assistance.
These are just some of the most common road emergencies you can encounter. As you can see, the most important thing is to stay calm and move your vehicle to a safe spot outside the road as soon as possible. Only then can you start dealing with rectifying the problem.
