Unit 05 Lesson 06 - Emergency Driving
FLOODING
Flooding can occur when streams and rivers flow over their banks, when dams or levees break, when there is run-off from deep snow or any time there is heavy rainfall. Flood-waters can be found on roads, bridges, and low areas. Flash floods can come rapidly and unexpectedly. They can occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall.
- Do not drive through flooded areas. If you see a flooded roadway ahead, turn around and find another route to get to your destination.
- Be cautious, especially at night, when visibility is limited.
- Remember, six (6) inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control or possible stalling.
- Two feet of moving water can carry away most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks.
- Even if the water appears shallow enough to cross, do not attempt to cross a flooded road. Water can hide dips, or worse, floodwaters can damage roadways by washing away the underlying road surface.
- If there is no other route, proceed to higher ground and wait for the waters to subside.
Flooded Bridge: Sanpitch River Gunnison UT, Public domain
EMERGENCY MEASURES
If you think about emergencies and plan for them before they happen, you will be less likely to panic and will know what to do if they do occur.
NOTE: Motorists have been seriously injured or even killed when attending to vehicle malfunctions such as flat tires, out of gas and other equipment problems on and off of roadways.
However, the majority of these incidents are preventable. In an effort to minimize death or injury the following simple rules for the road should be followed.
- Please ensure that your vehicle is properly maintained, including the internal engine components.
- Maintain adequate tire pressure and tread.
- Be sure your vehicle has a sufficient amount of fuel.
- If you do experience a vehicle malfunction, please pull off the road as far as possible or exit the freeway completely if possible. A shredded tire or bent rim is better than putting your life in danger.
- If you are off to the side of the road and need help, please stay in your vehicle as much as possible and keep walking on the road to a minimum. Being out of the vehicle opens the door of opportunity for injury or even death.
- Use your cell phone to call the local dispatch if you need assistance. If you do not have access to a cell phone, please leave the hood of your car up and your hazard lights on. This will advise the traveling public that you need assistance.
- Inform family members or other persons when to expect you at your destination.
- Have an emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle with blankets, extra food and water, to sustain you and your family.
Tire Blowout
Do not slam on the brakes. Let your car coast so that you can steer more easily. Hold the wheel tightly and slowly apply your brakes. When you have slowed down enough, pull all the way off the road. Pick a level spot if possible, turn on your emergency flashers and change the tire.
Do not slam on the brakes. Let your car coast so that you can steer more easily. Hold the wheel tightly and slowly apply your brakes. When you have slowed down enough, pull all the way off the road. Pick a level spot if possible, turn on your emergency flashers and change the tire.
Brake Failure
Try to get some brake pressure by pumping the brake pedal. Shift to a lower gear to help slow down the car. You can also use your paring brake to slow down and stop. If you still cannot stop and are going downhill, try to drive into heavy bushes, snow, or a sandbank.
Try to get some brake pressure by pumping the brake pedal. Shift to a lower gear to help slow down the car. You can also use your paring brake to slow down and stop. If you still cannot stop and are going downhill, try to drive into heavy bushes, snow, or a sandbank.
Skidding
Most of us think of ice and sand when we think of skidding. Remember that skidding can also happen on roads that are wet. Your car may start to “hydroplane” at speeds over 35 mph. Hydroplaning occurs when your front tires start to ride on water instead of the road. As you go faster, the problem becomes worse and you will lose control of your steering. In Utah, we also have a special problem with “black ice.” Black ice is very difficult to see on the roadway and appears more like a wet spot than a patch of ice. Unfortunately, many crashes occur each year from skids caused by black ice. The best policy is to keep a skid from happening. Slow down to a speed at which you can control the car. If you do skid, slowly take your foot off the gas pedal. If your rear wheels skid to the right, turn your front wheels to the right. If the rear wheels skid to the left, turn left. This is called "turning into the skid." Do not turn the wheel too far though, as that will make the car skid in the other direction. Do not slam on your brakes. Once your car regains traction, straighten out your wheels.
Most of us think of ice and sand when we think of skidding. Remember that skidding can also happen on roads that are wet. Your car may start to “hydroplane” at speeds over 35 mph. Hydroplaning occurs when your front tires start to ride on water instead of the road. As you go faster, the problem becomes worse and you will lose control of your steering. In Utah, we also have a special problem with “black ice.” Black ice is very difficult to see on the roadway and appears more like a wet spot than a patch of ice. Unfortunately, many crashes occur each year from skids caused by black ice. The best policy is to keep a skid from happening. Slow down to a speed at which you can control the car. If you do skid, slowly take your foot off the gas pedal. If your rear wheels skid to the right, turn your front wheels to the right. If the rear wheels skid to the left, turn left. This is called "turning into the skid." Do not turn the wheel too far though, as that will make the car skid in the other direction. Do not slam on your brakes. Once your car regains traction, straighten out your wheels.
Car Stalling on the Highway
Turn on your emergency flashers immediately and move your car off the road as soon as you can. If your car is near a traffic lane or where it is hard to be seen, get everyone out and away from the car. If you have them, use flares to warn other drivers. (It is a good idea to always have flares in your trunk.)
Turn on your emergency flashers immediately and move your car off the road as soon as you can. If your car is near a traffic lane or where it is hard to be seen, get everyone out and away from the car. If you have them, use flares to warn other drivers. (It is a good idea to always have flares in your trunk.)
Headlight Failure
Slow down and get off the road. Use your flares or other emergency warning devices to warn other drivers. Check the terminals on the battery to see if they are loose. NEVER drive at night without lights.
Slow down and get off the road. Use your flares or other emergency warning devices to warn other drivers. Check the terminals on the battery to see if they are loose. NEVER drive at night without lights.
Gas Pedal Sticks
Put your car into neutral or push in the clutch. Pull off the road and turn off the engine.
Put your car into neutral or push in the clutch. Pull off the road and turn off the engine.
Steering Wheel Locking Device
It is dangerous to turn your vehicle’s ignition to the lock position while it is in motion. If this happens and you try to turn the steering wheel, it will lock and you will lose control of the vehicle.
It is dangerous to turn your vehicle’s ignition to the lock position while it is in motion. If this happens and you try to turn the steering wheel, it will lock and you will lose control of the vehicle.
Car Coming Towards You in Your Lane
Honk your horn or blink your lights. The other driver may be asleep. If this does not work, swerve to the RIGHT, if possible. Avoid swerving into the oncoming lane or traffic. If the other driver wakes up, he/she will probably over-correct by trying to move the car back into the original lane of travel. If you are in that lane because you swerved the wrong direction, you may end up in a head-on collision
Honk your horn or blink your lights. The other driver may be asleep. If this does not work, swerve to the RIGHT, if possible. Avoid swerving into the oncoming lane or traffic. If the other driver wakes up, he/she will probably over-correct by trying to move the car back into the original lane of travel. If you are in that lane because you swerved the wrong direction, you may end up in a head-on collision
Distracting Situations
Sometimes while driving you may drop something, lose a contact lens, be stung by a bee, or be distracted in some other way. Some people panic when something like this happens. They become more concerned with the problem than about their driving and often run off the road or into the car in front of them. Don’t let this happen to you. If you have a problem or there is a distraction, pull over to the side of the road immediately and then take care of the problem.
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Sometimes while driving you may drop something, lose a contact lens, be stung by a bee, or be distracted in some other way. Some people panic when something like this happens. They become more concerned with the problem than about their driving and often run off the road or into the car in front of them. Don’t let this happen to you. If you have a problem or there is a distraction, pull over to the side of the road immediately and then take care of the problem.
NOTE: effective May 12, 2009, law prohibits the use of a handheld wireless communication device for text messaging or electronic mail communication while operating a moving motor vehicle on a highway in this state.
If You Need Help
Pull to the side of the road, turn on your emergency flashers, raise your hood, and tie something white or orange on the antenna or left door handle.
Pull to the side of the road, turn on your emergency flashers, raise your hood, and tie something white or orange on the antenna or left door handle.
(Select the link below Driving in Hazardous Conditions")
05.06 Emergency Driving Videos
Skill Builder - Driving in Hazardous Conditions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_4C8hGoOYw Links to an external site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_4C8hGoOYw Links to an external site.
The video in this activity was developed by the state of California to help drivers develop proper driving habits. It is a "YouTube" videos, so if your school blocks access to Youtube.com, then you will have to watch the videos at another location. (library, home, GoogleTV, AppleTV, etc). They are short and contain very good information on the driving task.
Please watch the videos carefully. It may be necessary to watch it a couple of times to understand the information before you start your behind-the-wheel driving experience. After watching the videos in this lesson, you will take a quiz on the content of the video in the next lesson.
05.06 Emergency Driving Rules of Road Videos Quiz
After completing the readings and viewing activities for the lessons in this unit, please take the Rules of Road Videos Quiz