Choosing the Right Travel Season
Preventing Trouble in Advance. Regarding some safety issues of self-driving, a reporter interviewed Mr. Wang, an experienced traveler with over 10 years of self-driving experience. Mr. Wang said that based on information from various media, the accident occurred during the rainy season in the Sichuan-Tibet area. Experienced travelers know that every year from June to August is the rainy season, and it is best to avoid traveling routes in the Sichuan-Tibet area during this period, as it is very easy to encounter dangers such as mudslides. Mr. Wang suggested that self-driving enthusiasts should choose the appropriate travel season and routes. In the weather-volatile mountainous areas of Southwest China, if there is sudden rainfall upstream, the downstream areas will quickly experience rising water levels, or even sudden and extremely heavy “Qitou Shui” (a local term in Sichuan), which can easily lead to the danger of being swept away by the flood. He believes that if the driver of the missing vehicle had stopped the car in place upon seeing the rising water and waited for rescue, the risk of danger would have been reduced.
Preventing Trouble in Advance. Regarding some safety issues of self-driving, a reporter interviewed Mr. Wang, an experienced traveler with over 10 years of self-driving experience. Mr. Wang said that based on information from various media, the accident occurred during the rainy season in the Sichuan-Tibet area. Experienced travelers know that every year from June to August is the rainy season, and it is best to avoid traveling routes in the Sichuan-Tibet area during this period, as it is very easy to encounter dangers such as mudslides. Mr. Wang suggested that self-driving enthusiasts should choose the appropriate travel season and routes. In the weather-volatile mountainous areas of Southwest China, if there is sudden rainfall upstream, the downstream areas will quickly experience rising water levels, or even sudden and extremely heavy “Qitou Shui” (a local term in Sichuan), which can easily lead to the danger of being swept away by the flood. He believes that if the driver of the missing vehicle had stopped the car in place upon seeing the rising water and waited for rescue, the risk of danger would have been reduced.
If Your Car Falls into Water, Slowly Roll Down the Window and Look for Light
As the saying goes: “Fear the water more than the mountain.” Mr. Wang explained that in self-driving trips, water is the most likely cause of fatal accidents. If your vehicle accidentally falls into water while driving, as long as you master the correct method, your chances of escaping successfully will be greatly increased. The principle is: if your car falls into water, slowly roll down the window and look for light.
After falling into water, do not rush to roll down the window or open the door to escape. Try to stay calm. The driver should use the precious time before the car is fully flooded to calm down, assess the direction of the water surface. Generally, the direction with light is the direction of the water surface. If you feel the vehicle is sinking, first pull the door’s safety lock, unbuckle your seatbelt, and keep your face as close to the top of the car as possible to ensure enough air, and wait for the water to slowly seep in through the gaps of the car. Once the water pressure inside and outside the car equalizes, have everyone take a deep breath, then open the door and escape.
If a Tire Blows Out on the Highway, Hold the Steering Wheel Steady and Tap the Brakes
Mr. Wang explained that during a self-driving trip, a tire blowout can easily lead to serious traffic accidents, especially on highways where it is particularly dangerous. Highways are usually an indispensable part of self-driving trips, so it’s important to be prepared for tire blowouts on them. In comparison, a front tire blowout tends to be much more severe than a rear tire blowout, so extra caution is needed with front tires. Regardless of which tire blows out, stay calm and never slam on the brakes. Instead, firmly hold the steering wheel to keep the vehicle moving straight. At the same time, gently tap the brakes to gradually slow down and slowly move toward the right side of the road to stop.
As the saying goes: “Fear the water more than the mountain.” Mr. Wang explained that in self-driving trips, water is the most likely cause of fatal accidents. If your vehicle accidentally falls into water while driving, as long as you master the correct method, your chances of escaping successfully will be greatly increased. The principle is: if your car falls into water, slowly roll down the window and look for light.
After falling into water, do not rush to roll down the window or open the door to escape. Try to stay calm. The driver should use the precious time before the car is fully flooded to calm down, assess the direction of the water surface. Generally, the direction with light is the direction of the water surface. If you feel the vehicle is sinking, first pull the door’s safety lock, unbuckle your seatbelt, and keep your face as close to the top of the car as possible to ensure enough air, and wait for the water to slowly seep in through the gaps of the car. Once the water pressure inside and outside the car equalizes, have everyone take a deep breath, then open the door and escape.
If a Tire Blows Out on the Highway, Hold the Steering Wheel Steady and Tap the Brakes
Mr. Wang explained that during a self-driving trip, a tire blowout can easily lead to serious traffic accidents, especially on highways where it is particularly dangerous. Highways are usually an indispensable part of self-driving trips, so it’s important to be prepared for tire blowouts on them. In comparison, a front tire blowout tends to be much more severe than a rear tire blowout, so extra caution is needed with front tires. Regardless of which tire blows out, stay calm and never slam on the brakes. Instead, firmly hold the steering wheel to keep the vehicle moving straight. At the same time, gently tap the brakes to gradually slow down and slowly move toward the right side of the road to stop.
If the Brakes Fail, Gently Pull the Handbrake and Shift Down Quickly
During a self-driving trip, since most of the roads chosen by travelers are mountain roads or remote trails with poor conditions, brake failure can easily occur. Mr. Wang said that when brakes fail, using the handbrake requires proper control—you must not pull it abruptly. Pulling the handbrake too hard may cause the rear wheels to lock up, making the vehicle uncontrollable. The correct method is to slowly pull up the handbrake lever, tightening and loosening it several times to gradually slow down and stop the vehicle. For manual transmission vehicles, you can use the method of shifting down to decelerate and stop. Typically, you can directly shift into second gear, then release the throttle and lift the clutch. Once the vehicle has a strong braking sensation, you can then try shifting into first gear. You can also turn off the ignition and use the engine’s cylinder compression to bring the vehicle to a stop. Mr. Wang emphasized that once the brakes fail while driving, passengers must never jump out of the vehicle blindly. On downhill sections where the brakes fail, if necessary, you can use the side of the vehicle to collide with a hillside to achieve the purpose of slowing down.
Finally, Mr. Wang suggests that those who enjoy self-driving trips should consider purchasing travel accident insurance when going out, or even specialized self-driving trip insurance.
During a self-driving trip, since most of the roads chosen by travelers are mountain roads or remote trails with poor conditions, brake failure can easily occur. Mr. Wang said that when brakes fail, using the handbrake requires proper control—you must not pull it abruptly. Pulling the handbrake too hard may cause the rear wheels to lock up, making the vehicle uncontrollable. The correct method is to slowly pull up the handbrake lever, tightening and loosening it several times to gradually slow down and stop the vehicle. For manual transmission vehicles, you can use the method of shifting down to decelerate and stop. Typically, you can directly shift into second gear, then release the throttle and lift the clutch. Once the vehicle has a strong braking sensation, you can then try shifting into first gear. You can also turn off the ignition and use the engine’s cylinder compression to bring the vehicle to a stop. Mr. Wang emphasized that once the brakes fail while driving, passengers must never jump out of the vehicle blindly. On downhill sections where the brakes fail, if necessary, you can use the side of the vehicle to collide with a hillside to achieve the purpose of slowing down.
Finally, Mr. Wang suggests that those who enjoy self-driving trips should consider purchasing travel accident insurance when going out, or even specialized self-driving trip insurance.