The Qingming Festival short break is approaching, and many car owners have started opting for self-driving trips. When traveling, driving safety is paramount, and knowing how to handle your vehicle in emergency situations is essential. It can not only help avoid accidental injuries but also prevent adverse consequences from incorrect operations.
Spring Short Break Self-Driving Trip: Correct Ways to Handle Emergencies
Sudden Brake Failure — Key Action: Shift Down to Reduce Speed
In the event of sudden brake failure, you should try to stop as quickly as possible. Swiftly shift down from a higher gear to a lower one, using the engine’s idling resistance to reduce speed. At the same time, maintain control of the steering and follow the avoidance principle of “pedestrians first, objects second” to steer clear of hazards and drive toward the roadside to stop safely. If the situation is critical and the handbrake is functional, make full use of its braking power—but do not pull it too abruptly to avoid damaging rapidly rotating components due to sudden braking, which could result in a total loss of braking ability. If brake failure occurs while going downhill, never take chances just because traffic conditions seem temporarily fine; otherwise, the increasing speed will become uncontrollable. In this case, decisively guide the vehicle to rub against natural obstacles such as roadside slopes, trees, or rocks to minimize accident damage.
Sudden Loss of Steering Control — Key Action: Shift Down to Reduce Speed
When steering suddenly becomes unresponsive, the car may feel like an untamed horse, veering wildly. Immediately shift down to reduce speed, and try to bring the vehicle to a stop as quickly as possible by gently pulling the handbrake or intermittently pressing the brake pedal (cadence braking). Avoid slamming the foot brake to prevent skidding and further danger. Regardless of whether the steering system is functioning, try to turn the wheel toward the roadside or natural barriers like trees to reach a safe spot. Never continue driving just because the road seems fine at the moment.
Sudden Tire Blowout — Key Action: Grip the Steering Wheel and Release the Accelerator
If the front tire blows out while driving, the car will immediately pull toward the side of the blown tire. In this case, grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands and ease off the accelerator to allow the vehicle to gradually veer toward the roadside and slow down smoothly, using the engine's resistance to come to a stop. Before the speed has decreased, do not hastily apply the brakes, as this may cause severe swerving.
If the rear tire blows out while driving, the vehicle may sway, but the steering usually remains controllable. In this case, repeatedly and gently press the brake to shift the load to the front wheels, while maintaining control of the direction and pulling over to the roadside to stop.
Headlights Suddenly Go Out — Key Action: Immediately Turn on the Marker Lights or Dome Light
If the headlights suddenly go out while driving at night, immediately turn on the marker lights or dome light and safely steer the vehicle to the roadside. If all lights fail, try to maintain control of the direction without making abrupt steering movements, allowing the vehicle to continue along its original path, then promptly turn off the engine and stop to resolve the issue. Once stopped, use available materials such as flashlights, candles, or red or white clothing to set up warning signs to prevent collisions with other vehicles.
If the issue cannot be resolved immediately but you need to continue, and conditions allow, use moonlight (guideline for judging road conditions in moonlight: bright areas are water or road, white is road, black is mud) and roadside trees as guides. Frequently honk to alert others and slowly drive toward a repair location.
Sudden Vehicle Slide on an Uphill — Key Action: Use Hand and Foot Brakes to Stop as Soon as Possible
If a heavily loaded car loses power while going uphill or fails to shift gears and begins to slide backward, promptly use the hand and foot brakes to stop. Otherwise, the vehicle will pick up speed and become very difficult to control. After stopping, place wedges such as triangular blocks or stones under the wheels before attempting to move again.
If the brakes fail to stop the car and there is a risk of sliding backward, focus on controlling the direction, avoiding hazards on the road, and steering the rear of the vehicle toward natural barriers like roadside hills, rocks, or trees to use them to block the slide.
Alternatively, steer into nearby farmland or sandy areas to cushion and dissipate the vehicle’s kinetic energy, reducing potential damage.
Side Slip — Key Action: Ease Off the Accelerator to Reduce Speed and Correct the Steering Wheel Toward the Slide Direction
When driving on icy or snowy roads or suddenly encountering a sharp curve, abrupt braking can often lead to side slipping or even spinning. In this situation, immediately ease off the accelerator to reduce speed and steer slightly in the direction of the slip to correct it. Wait until the slide subsides.
Then gradually return to normal road conditions. Be mindful of the road surface to avoid veering off the shoulder. Additionally, during a slide, the car’s weight compresses the springs and shock absorbers. Once the steering is corrected, these compressed components will release built-up energy in the opposite direction of the slide. Therefore, once the rear wheels regain traction, immediately straighten the steering wheel to prevent a new slide in the opposite direction.
Vehicle Lean — Key Action: Immediately Exit the Vehicle Safely and Handle According to the Situation
If a wheel goes off the shoulder and the vehicle is left hanging in the air, immediately choose a safe way to exit the vehicle without causing further imbalance. After getting out, carefully assess the situation and take appropriate rescue measures: if only the front (or rear) wheel is suspended, place a rock on the ground as a fulcrum, insert a long wooden lever under the suspended wheel, and use leverage to pry the vehicle back onto the road. If the vehicle is tilted toward the shoulder with a risk of rolling, immediately secure the body with ropes tied to roadside trees, posts, or buildings, and move cargo to the side closer to the center of the road to maintain balance. If necessary, unload cargo before taking further action. If the roadside slope is gentle, dig away part of the shoulder or place wooden planks to help the vehicle gradually return to the road.
Vehicle Fire — Key Action: Immediately Cut Off Fuel Supply and Ignition Switch
In the event of a fire, immediately cut off the fuel supply and turn off the ignition switch. Use a portable fire extinguisher or improvise with sand, wet blankets, canvas, or similar materials to smother the flames. If the fire starts in a parking lot or gas station, first move the vehicle to a safer area before extinguishing the fire to minimize damage. While fighting the fire, protect yourself—avoid breathing through your mouth or shouting to prevent upper respiratory burns from smoke. Also, be aware that overheated fuel tanks or drums may explode at any time. Evacuate passengers and bystanders promptly to prevent further losses.