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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:
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:
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Pump the brakes gently (unless they are
ABS), but do not brake hard. |
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Concentrate on maintaining control of
your vehicle. |
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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. |
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When you are able to do so safely, pull
the car off the road. |
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