You did not see it coming. You were driving down the road and you heard a thumping-type noise, or your car handled differently as it rolled down the pavement.
If you are driving along and you notice your car is starting to malfunction, gently take your foot off the accelerator. Do not brake hard or suddenly, according to the National Safety Council. Signal your intention to pull over and monitor traffic before changing lanes.
While no one likes to think about the possibility of getting stranded, here are some common causes of car trouble.
Flat tire
One in four roadside emergencies is caused by a flat tire. Because of that, it is a good idea to learn how to change a tire. While you can contact a roadside service to take care of your flat, that will not help you if you are out of cell phone service range or your phone is dead.
Although surveys on this subject should be taken with a grain of salt, some surveys estimate that 25% of Americans do not know how to change a tire, and another 19% are not very confident in their ability to do so. And of teen drivers aged 15–17, 52% are clueless when it comes to changing a tire.
Use emergency flares or reflective triangles to alert motorists to your disabled vehicle.
- Dead battery
A standard car battery will last approximately three years or 50,000 miles before it starts failing (depending on the battery’s rating, of course). If you do not keep your battery current, you may find yourself with a drained battery and no way to start your car.
Keeping jumper cables in your trunk is a wise choice because someone else may be able to give you a jump. However, if you no one else is around, this will not help you. If you want to play it safe, keep a portable car jump-starter in your trunk. This nifty device could jump-start your car when the battery is completely dead, as long as the starter is charged.
- Wintery road conditions
Road conditions during winter can be treacherous and may be caused by a blizzard, sleet or black ice. Each year, 24% of weather-related crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement and 15% happen during snowfall or sleet, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
If roads have become impassable, take the following steps:
- Pull over and try not to panic. Avoid walking away from your car to look for help. Your car will keep you sheltered, and it will also be easier for you to be found.
- If your car is in a hazardous position or in a place where it could be struck by another vehicle, move it off the roadway. Your last option should be to safely get out of the car and away from the roadway.
- Open or crack a window to get fresh air.
- Keep your hazard lights on to help other drivers see your car and make it easier for emergency responders to locate you.
- Move your body to keep your blood circulating.
Check your tires and keep your vehicle well-maintained to avoid trouble. When car trouble does happen, use these steps to stay safe.