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The Weather Channel Driving Safely Tips
Tips for Driving in Snow and Icy Conditions The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.
Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
Tips for Driving in Rain Smart Motorist offers the following suggestions for safer driving in wet weather. In stormy conditions, it is more difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and the road itself. It is critical to make sure you can see and be seen.
How to Handle a Real Auto Emergency By Tom Wilson of MSN Autos
If your idea of a vehicular emergency is changing a flat tire, let’s just say the instructions are on a sticker under the trunk lid or, for sure, in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. But as the nightly news likes to remind us all too often, the world can be a dangerous place. People face real perils out on our roadways every day, the sort of sticky wickets in which a person’s survival could be in real doubt. When such threats occur, it’ll take some sang-froid and a bit of knowledge to escape serious injury or even death.
What to do in Emergency Situation
From New Jersey Motor Vehicle Services
Skids
Sudden turns, lane changes or hard braking can cause a car to
skid. On wet or icy roads, the potential to skid increases.
In both front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles, handle a skid the
same way: If the rear end of the vehicle starts to skid, do not
touch the gas pedal; do not make a quick turn away from the direction
of the skid; turn in the direction in which the rear of the vehicle
is skidding, but do not over-steer; and, try not to brake during
a side skid.
Emergency Stops
When stopping for an emergency on a highway with paved shoulders,
signal first and then steer onto the shoulder at or near the
speed of traffic. Then slow down. When steering onto an unpaved
shoulder, signal, slow down and then steer to the shoulder.
In dusk, darkness or bad weather, turn on the vehicle’s parking
lights or hazard lights (emergency lights) once on the shoulder of
the roadway. Do not block the vehicle’s taillights at night by standing or working
behind the vehicle. Day or night, put a flare or another warning
device just behind the vehicle. Put another warning device at
least 300 feet back (about 120 paces). Raise the hood. Tie a white
handkerchief to the antenna or left door to signal for help.
Running off the Pavement
If a vehicle drifts off the roadway onto the shoulder, slow down, regain
control of the vehicle and steer slowly back onto the roadway
when safe.
Car Fires
Most car fires are caused by short circuits in the vehicle’s electrical
system. In case of fire, do not waste time. All passengers
should leave the vehicle at once. If there is no fire extinguisher
available, try to smother the burning wires with any heavy cloth,
dirt or sand. Do not use water to put out an electrical fire. Do not
grip burning wires with bare hands.
If the fire is burning out-of-control, move away quickly from the vehicle.
The gas tank could explode.
Plunging into Water
A vehicle that plunges into a body of water will float from three to
10 minutes if all windows and doors are closed.
A front-engine car will sink nose first. A rear-engine car will sink
tail first.
It’s important to remain calm. Always wear a seat belt, which will
help the driver survive the impact of plunging into a body of water.
Before water reaches window level, try to escape from
the vehicle through an open window. It is nearly impossible,
because of water pressure, to open a door. A window,
though, can be easily rolled down. Power windows
may short out. Try to open power windows right away in
this type of emergency.
Stalling on Railroad Tracks
Try to move a vehicle with standard transmission off the railroad
tracks by running the starter in low or second gear. If this does not
work, exit the vehicle and try to push it from the tracks.
Move an automatic transmission vehicle by pushing the vehicle
from the tracks.
If a train is approaching, and the vehicle is still on the tracks, walk
away quickly from the vehicle alongside the tracks toward the train.
Car Failure
Regardless of the age or condition of a vehicle, there is always the
possibility of vehicle failure.
Brake Failure
Quickly shift to a low gear if conventional drum and disc brakes
fail while the vehicle is in motion. Pump the brake pedal hard several
times quickly. This may build up sufficient brake pressure to
slow the vehicle.
As a last resort, use the parking brake. Hold the parking brake release
in case the vehicle begins to skid.
With the vehicle in a low gear, look for a place to stop off of the roadway.
Call or signal for help. Do not attempt to drive the vehicle.
Tire Blowout
Grip the steering wheel firmly after a tire blowout, and keep the vehicle
going straight. Slow down gradually. Let up on the gas pedal.
Do not press the brake pedal. Let the vehicle coast to a stop. Signal
to pull off the road and press the brake pedal when the vehicle
is almost stopped.
Power Steering Failure
If the engine dies, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Steering
will become very difficult. Restart the engine if possible. Signal
and safely pull off of the roadway. Call or signal for help.
Headlight Failure
Stop the car safely if the headlights fail. Try the dimmer switch.
That often will put the lights on again. Try the headlight switch
several times. Turn on hazard or emergency lights, and the parking
lights.
Gas Pedal Problems
If a vehicle’s gas pedal is stuck, remain calm and focused. Quickly
shift to neutral. Signal and safely pull off of the roadway. Bring the
car to a stop. Turn off the engine.
Hood Latch Failure
If the hood suddenly unlatches and lifts up while the car is in motion,
slow down safely and quickly. Try to look under the hood to
see the road. If this does not work, roll down the driver-side window
and look out to see the road. Use the centerline or other lane
marking as a guide. Pull off of the road and stop.
Windshield Wiper Failure
Slow down if windshield wipers fail during a snow or rainstorm.
Roll down the driver-side window and look out of it to see the road.
Pull off of the road and stop.
Accidents
Avoiding Collisions
Emergencies do arise. Remember these three things every motorist
can do to make an inevitable collision less dangerous: Stop,
turn or speed up.
To stop quickly:
Pump conventional drum and disc brakes for better control and
steering. Locking these brakes by pushing the brake pedal too
hard and holding it will cause the car to skid.
Anti-lock brakes adjust automatically if wheels begin to lock. With this
type of braking system, put maximum pressure on the brake pedal.
To turn quickly:
If it is not possible to stop to avoid a collision, turn away so the collision
is not head on. Run off the road if necessary. Try not to use
the brakes while turning to lessen the chance of skidding.
To speed up:
Speed up to avoid a collision from the side or from behind if there
is room to escape the danger. Push the gas pedal to the floor. Be
sure to slow down once the danger has passed.
Last-Minute Choices
In the few seconds before a collision, try not to panic. Last-second
choices exist and can help motorists in emergency situations.
If a collision looks imminent, turn away from oncoming traffic even
if it means leaving the roadway. Drive off the road. If necessary,
choose to hit something that will give way. If it is necessary, try to
make the collision a glancing blow, or a sideswipe.
Rear Collision
Be ready to apply brakes after being hit from the rear. Try to avoid
hitting any vehicle ahead.
Side Collision
Keep a tight grip on the steering wheel. This may keep the driver from
being thrown against the side of the car during a side collision.
Head-on Collision
In a head-on collision, use arms and hands for protection when
wearing a shoulder harness. If the shoulder harness is not in use,
lay across the front seats to avoid hitting the steering wheel or
windshield.
What to do in Case of an Accident
The first thing to do after being involved in an accident is stop.
Then, get help. Wait at the accident scene, but do not block traffic
if possible. Stay calm and seek assistance. Notify the police and
emergency personnel. Depending on the location of the accident,
warn oncoming traffic.
Reporting Accidents
New Jersey law requires motorists to notify police of accidents
that have caused injury, death or car or property damage.
Help law enforcement officials by answering questions about the
accident and providing facts.
When property damage is more than $500, or personal injury has
occurred, motorists must:
• send a written report to MVC within 10 days if no police report
is filed
• notify insurance company
Parked Car Accidents
Notify the police after hitting a parked car. Attempt to locate the
owner. Leave a note providing personal and contact information
on the parked car if the owner cannot be located. The note should
include name, address and driver license number.
Steering Wheel Locking Device
Never turn a vehicle’s ignition switch to the “lock” position while
the vehicle is still in motion. This will cause the steering wheel to
lock if it is turned, causing the complete loss of control of the vehicle.
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