Emergency Handling Breakdowns
- 1/13To stay alert and avoid drowsiness on the highway
Fresh air helps maintain alertness during long drives. Poor ventilation and stagnant air can lead to fatigue, increasing the risk of highway hypnosis and delayed reaction times.
To protect your vision and reduce glare in bright daylight
Good sunglasses improve visibility and reduce eye strain during the day. At night, sunglasses impair vision and create dangerous conditions.
To avoid being in the blind spot of another driver
Blind spots prevent other drivers from seeing your vehicle, increasing the risk of side collisions. Always position your car where it can be seen.
Using mobile-phone while driving
Distraction from phones leads to slower response times. For minors, using any phone while driving (even hands-free) is illegal except in emergencies.
If your vehicle breaks down and cannot be moved
Staying in a stalled vehicle on the road puts lives at risk. Use reflective triangles or flares to warn oncoming traffic of your location.
To safely warn others of your disabled vehicle at night
Illuminating your vehicle from within makes it more visible to other drivers, reducing the chance of an accident in low-visibility conditions.
To signal a vehicle breakdown during daylight hours
The cloth signals distress to passing drivers and roadside assistance. If no cloth is available, raise your hood as an alternate signal.
When your car begins to skid
Avoid slamming the brakes. Steering into the skid helps you regain control gradually as the tires regain traction.
To avoid skidding in bad weather
Worn tires lose grip, especially on wet or icy roads. Lower speeds reduce the chance of losing control during sharp turns or sudden stops.
If your brakes fail while driving
Avoid panicking or slamming any brake. Shifting down slows the vehicle naturally and using the parking brake slowly prevents skidding.
If you run off the pavement
Avoid jerking the wheel or braking hard. After slowing, check traffic and re-enter the pavement smoothly when safe.
If your car has a blowout or flat tire
Sudden braking can cause loss of control. Instead, steer straight and let the vehicle slow naturally before pulling over.
When driving down a steep hill
Lower gears use engine braking to control speed safely. Coasting eliminates this control and increases the risk of brake failure.