subject: Dayton's Interstate Ford Provides Tips for Surviving the Top 3 Driving Dangers [print this page] Dayton's Interstate Ford Provides Tips for Surviving the Top 3 Driving Dangers
There are many road hazards Interstate Ford drivers may encounter during their daily commute so it's important to know what the dangers are and how to deal with them when they arise. Here is a brief overview of the top three driving emergencies and how to handle them if they happen to you.
Tire Blowouts
Blowouts can happen to anyone at anytime and they can be dangerous to all in the car and on the road. If you experience a tire blow out, you should step on the gas pedal for a few seconds to keep in control of the car. Your reaction to break and turn is what causes accidents. Slowly release the pressure on the gas petal. The blown tire will begin to slow down the car's acceleration. Continue driving straight without braking until you can begin to ease the car to the shoulder of the road in a safe area.
Abrupt Acceleration
If you are driving and all of a sudden the vehicle begins to accelerate, you need to shift into neutral (or push the clutch). If you are not able to do that, you can shut off the ignition as a last resort. In today's cars, it will be difficult to then steer the car without the vehicle being on but it will allow you to apply the brakes to stop the vehicle. The good news that in this scary situation the brakes on a modern vehicle will overpower the engine so you should be able to relax, stay in control of the vehicle until you can successfully stop it.
Emergency Stop With ABS Brakes
Having to come to a complete stop suddenly can be a frightening experience. But in order to stop a vehicle with ABS, you'll need to stomp on the brake as if you were trying to break it off. It may go against your instinct to really press down hard on the brake pedal until you fully stop but it is necessary. This technique should be tested on a dead-end road so you can practice what it takes to perfect an emergency stop.
If you experience any emergency situation, be sure to bring your Ford into our Dayton Ford service center for assistance in getting back on the road safely.
