It’s a sunny day, you’re coasting down the highway doing precisely the speed limit, and you’re feeling like a Rockstar. You notice wet ground in the next town over. Funny, they must have gotten rain. A lot of rain. Isn’t it weird how it can pour in one spot and be perfectly dry and sunny a mile down the road?
Suddenly, you hit a puddle and start skidding uncontrollably. What do you do?
Your mind probably races back to those moments in driver’s ed. What did they say about this, again? Do you correct course or drive into the skid?
We can consider ourselves lucky that we don’t encounter situations like these often, but then we’re way out of practice when we do experience them.
Generally, newer vehicles are less likely to break down and are easier to move around with in an emergency, but you should still be cautious.
Now is as good a time as any to brush up on road hazards and how to handle them.
How to handle skidding
If you guessed earlier that you should drive into the skid, you probably heard that advice from an old-school driver. But most experts today agree that this may not be the best course of action.
Here’s what you should do instead:
As soon as you feel the car skidding, take your foot off the gas pedal and choose a focal point within the road ahead. Gently steer towards that point.
Do not overreact and try to force the car in any direction. This can cause a rollover, which may be even worse. Do not slam on your brakes. This will only encourage more skidding.
How to handle tire blowouts
Tire blowouts can be insanely scary. Not only is there a loud noise, but you now have a very flat tire. Don’t panic.
Here’s what you should do instead:
Hold your steering wheel firmly with both hands and remove your foot from the gas pedal. Gently steer your car to the shoulder or a quiet spot in the road. Apply the brakes gently when you’re ready to stop. The important part is to let your car slow naturally as much as possible before you stop. You don’t want to slam on the brakes.
This is one of those issues that could be easily avoided with regular maintenance, so be sure you’re scheduling a service check on your tires every 30 to 40 thousand miles.
Another car hits yours
This can be a terrifying experience for anyone, but if you have kids in the car, it’s a recipe for a full-on panic attack.
Here’s what to do:
You may have heard that you shouldn’t move your car, so the police can investigate what happened and who is at fault. But if you’re in a busy intersection or on a highway, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Immediately steer away to a safe spot.
Next, check on the kids and other passengers. Expect the kids to be a bit shaken up, so there may be some crying even if they aren’t hurt. If a child is hurt, resist the urge to pull him or her out of their car seat. You can worsen injuries by moving someone who is injured.
We all want life to be filled with sunshine and roses, but we must also be prepared for a few hazards along the way. When you know what to do in case of emergency, you’ll have less to worry about.
