Surviving the Top 3 Driving Emergencies

In order to obtain a license, most drivers aren’t required to demonstrate much proficiency. They simply need to know how to parallel park and make a three-point turn. On a normal day, this wouldn’t matter, but when an emergency occurs, most drivers aren’t aware that their actions behind the wheel can make a difference in whether they avoid an accident as well as injuries. 

Before you head out on the road, or send your teenager out for his first driving experience, make sure you understand what types of emergencies could occur and make sure each driver in your family is aware of how to handle them correctly. 

Common Road Emergencies 

Tyre Blowout- There’s nothing scarier than driving down the road and having a tyre blow. The explosive sound can cause almost anyone to panic. Most drivers automatically slow down and try to get off the road. This isn’t the best way to handle this situation, however. In order to survive a tyre blowout, do the following. 

• Squeeze the accelerator- not the brake. Accelerating forward puts you in control of the vehicle. After a couple of seconds, gently release the pedal. Don’t worry about speed during this process. The drag force of the flat tyre will prevent the vehicle from going any faster. 

• Drive straight down the road, avoiding the brake at all costs. Allow the car to slow down by itself until it reaches a safe speed. Engage the indicator light and slowly turn the wheel toward the side of the road. 

While not technically car parts, tyres should be checked each time you perform regular inspections for other car parts and check your oil. Tyre blowouts generally occur because of low pressure in the tyres. 

Tread Separation- You’re driving down the road when you notice a consistent thumping sound coming from one of your Rover’s tyres. At first you think nothing of it, but the sound suddenly changes to a slapping noise, and then pounding similar to that of a jackhammer. The tread on the Rover’s tyres is coming off. 

Tread separation is serious, and can be very dangerous. When the tread comes off the tyre, either partially or completely, the steel-backed rubber will begin to spin, and can potentially slice through many rover parts, like brake lines, fender panels, rear seats, fuel tanks, and side windows. It can even slice through flesh and bone. 

Unfortunately, once the thread comes off, the noise disappears, leaving many drivers to believe the problem has been solved. If you notice these sounds, stop the car immediately and have it inspected by a professional to avoid damage to the Land Rover parts. Put a spare tyre on before going any further. If the tread begins to come off while driving, use the same technique as used above for a blowout. However, make sure to turn toward the shoulder that is on the same side as the affected tyre. 

Sudden Acceleration- This problem, also known as unintended acceleration, happens to the best of us. And while it can be very dangerous and unnerving, most often it does not indicate any problem with your car or car parts. It is most often an indication of driver error. 

In other words, if you suddenly accelerate, you most likely pressed on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake. 

To fix this problem, the first step is to lift your foot off the pedal. If the engine stops racing, the problem was driver error. If this does not fix the problem, shift the car into neutral. If you are driving a manual vehicle, push in the clutch instead. Don’t worry if you accidentally shift into reverse; modern car parts are made to adapt quickly and avoid damage. The engine will either act as if it is in neutral or it will stall. 

If an emergency occurred while you were driving, would you be prepared? Make sure you, and any other drivers in your home, understand how to react in these tough situations.