How to handle car
trouble while driving
S
udden car trouble is something no
driver wants to experience, but many
a driver has been driving down the
highway only to feel his or her vehicle start to
sputter. Such sputtering might indicate a car
is running low on fuel, or it could be a sign of
something more serious that requires motorists to think as quickly and safely as possible.
When car trouble strikes while a vehicle
is on the road, the first thing many drivers
do is check their fuel gauges. A car that
runs out of gas is certainly inconvenient,
but if you can pull over to the shoulder or
make it to the nearest filling station, then
this unfortunate situation can be remedied
rather easily. But when a car’s tank is full
and it is still showing signs of trouble, drivers must take steps to protect themselves,
their passengers and their vehicles. The
following are a few simple tips motorists
should keep in mind so they can safely
handle any car trouble that may arise while
they are out on the road.
∞ Keep a first-aid kit, spare tire and
tire jack in the car at all times. Flat tires
are no fun, but they are even more of a
nuisance when drivers are not prepared
to address them. Always keep a jack and
20 • Fall Vermont Home Garden & Car
spare tire in your car, even if the spare
is a donut you can temporarily use to
replace a flat tire until you make it to a
filling station or automotive supply store.
As an added safety measure, keep a fully
stocked first aid kit in your vehicle in
case you cut yourself while changing the
tire or need to address another medical
situation. Visit www.redcross.org for a list
of items to include in your automotive
emergency kit. Keep a blanket in the
trunk as well so your passengers can stay
warm should you experience car trouble
on a cold day or night.
∞ Make note of your surroundings.
Some car troubles can only be fixed by the
professionals, so pay careful attention to
your surroundings in case an issue arises
and forces you to pull over and call for
help. Always pay attention to mile markers
and any landmarks that might help you
describe where you are. Car troubles can
strike at any time and anywhere, so be sure
to pay special attention to your surroundings when driving in unfamiliar areas.
∞ Pull over. Don’t panic if an issue arises
suddenly. Remain calm and pull over onto
the shoulder. The right shoulder is the area
for pulling over on most roads, but you may
also use the left shoulder on multilane highways with medians. Try to get as far away from
traffic as possible without driving off of level
ground, and always use your signals when
pulling onto the shoulder. If the vehicle can’t
make it to the median, put your emergency
flashers on and get out of the car, moving
away from both the vehicle and traffic. Immediately call for emergency roadside assistance,
alerting the authorities if need be.
∞ Use flares or triangles to alert other
drivers. So long as you are not risking
your well-being, you can place flares
and/or warning triangles behind your
vehicle so oncoming traffic knows to
drive around it. The popular not-for-profit motor club AAA recommends placing
the first flare or triangle 10 feet directly
behind the side of the vehicle that is
closest to the road. The second should be
placed between 30 and 60 feet (increase
the distances as the posted speed limit
increases) behind the middle of the
bumper, while the third flare or triangle
should be placed between 120 and 360
feet behind the vehicle’s right side.
∞ Stay with the vehicle. Once you have
called for help and set up flares or triangles, stay with the vehicle, though do so
at a safe enough distance so you are not
in harm’s way.
Sudden car troubles can be scary, but drivers
who approach such issues calmly and quickly
can reduce their risk for accident or injury.