Soft
Shoulders in Emergencies
In
an emergency, drivers may use the "shoulders"
of the roadway as their escape path. With that in mind,
be aware of the condition of the road’s shoulder
while you drive. Shoulders may be soft, rough, or littered
with bottles, old tires, or other debris.
In
an emergency, if you are forced off of the road onto
the shoulder, be prepared for reduced traction.
You will probably have to slow down substantially to
maintain control of your vehicle once you enter the
shoulder.
Braking
with two wheels on the shoulder and two wheels on the
road will result in unequal traction which may cause
your car to skid. The road’s surface will probably
be higher than the shoulder which will cause steering
difficulties or loss of vehicle control while you are
attempting to steer your vehicle back onto the road.
Drop
Offs Instead of Shoulders
Mountain
driving presents special challenges, and you may not
have the liberty of using the shoulder as an escape
hatch if you need one. Drive more slowly in the mountains.
If there is a drop-off instead of a shoulder, you should
drive as close to the road's center line as possible.
Bad
Pavement
Watch
out for uneven pavement and potholes caused by road
construction or deterioration of the road. Hitting a
patch of uneven pavement can cause your car's handling
to become erratic or damage your tires. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and identify a path of travel that will
minimize your exposure to the poor road condition. Do
not jerk your car sideways out of rough terrain, as
that may cause a steering failure or severely damage
your tires.
Roads
under construction or being resurfaced may not have
yellow center-lines marking the center of the road.
If that is the case, watch out for oncoming traffic
and keep to the right of your side of the road.
Handling
Equipment Failure
The
last step to your becoming a successful defensive driver
is knowing how to handle the unexpected. Mechanical
failure and environmental hazards are part of driving,
and you must be prepared to handle them.
Brake
Failure
If
your brakes suddenly fail:
Wet
Brakes
After
driving through deep water you should test your brakes.
They may pull to one side or not hold at all. To dry
the brakes, put your car in low gear, drive slowly,
and lightly apply the brakes. Test about every 200 feet,
continuing until braking action returns to normal.
ABS
(Anti-lock Braking System)
Most
of today's cars come equipped with a highly sophisticated,
computerized braking system, called ABS, which gives
the driver an edge in today's driving environment.
ABS,
or Anti-lock Braking System, works by pumping the brakes
hundreds of times during the few seconds of your pressing
the brake pedal.
This
automatic pumping gives your car better braking ability
by preventing the wheels from locking, reducing the
chances of a skid.
There
are several things to look out for and be aware of with
ABS.
When
ABS is engaged there is a low level of shudder and kickback
in the pedal, as well as some pumping noises, all of
which might startle drivers who aren't ready for them
and cause them to release the brake.
Remember not to overreact when experiencing the shudder
or hearing the pumping noises; keep pushing the brake
until the car stops.
It is also important to remember that ABS gives the
driver an ability to steer the car during a hard brake,
allowing you to steer and avoid the objects in your
way.
If
your vehicle is equipped with ABS braking system and
the brakes fail, your brakes will function as standard
brakes.
If your ABS fails, follow the steps for regular brakes
listed above.
Tire
Blowout
If
your tires fail:
 |
Pump
the brakes gently (unless they are ABS), but do
not brake hard. |
|
Concentrate
on maintaining control of your vehicle. |
|
Steer
straight ahead and continue to brake gently.
A front tire blowout may cause the car to pull towards
the blown tire. A rear tire blowout may cause the
car to swerve or fishtail. |
|
When
you are able to do so safely, pull the car off the
road. |
|
