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2.15 Emergencies

• Traffic emergencies occur when two vehicles are about to collide.
• Vehicle emergencies occur when tires, brakes or other critical parts fail.

Following the safety practices in this manual can help prevent emergencies. But if an emergency does happen, your chances of avoiding an accident depend upon how well you take action.

Steering to Avoid a Crash

Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency. When you do not have enough room to stop, you may have to steer away from what is ahead. Remember, you can almost always turn to miss an obstacle more quickly than you can stop (however, top-heavy vehicles and tractors with multiple trailers may overturn).

Steering quickly:

To turn quickly, you must have a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands. A quick turn can be made safely if it is done correctly.

• Do not apply the brakes while you are turning. It is very easy to lock your wheels while turning. If that happens, you may skid out of control.
• Do not turn any more than needed to clear whatever is in your way. The more sharply you turn, the greater the chances of a skid or rollover.
• Be prepared to “countersteer,” that is, to turn the wheel back in the other direction once you have passed whatever was in your path. Unless you are prepared to countersteer, you will not be able to do it quickly enough. Think of emergency steering and countersteering as two parts of one driving action.

Where to steer:

If an oncoming driver has drifted into your lane, a move to your right is best. If that driver realizes what has happened, the natural response will be to return to his/her own lane. If something is blocking your path, the best direction to steer will depend on the situation.

• If you have been using your mirrors, you will know which lane is empty and can be safely used.
• If the shoulder is clear, going right may be best. No one is likely to be driving on the shoulder, but someone may be passing you on the left. You will know if you have been using your mirrors.
• If you are blocked on both sides, a move to the right may be best. At least you will not force anyone into an opposing traffic lane and a possible head-on collision.

Leaving the road:

In some emergencies, you may have to drive off the road. It may be less risky than facing a collision with another vehicle. Most shoulders are strong enough to support the weight of a large vehicle and, therefore, offer an available escape route. Following are guidelines if you must leave the road:

• Avoid braking - If possible, avoid using the brakes until your speed has dropped to about 20 mph. Then brake very gently to avoid skidding on a loose surface.
• Keep one set of wheels on pavement if possible - This helps to maintain control of the vehicle.
• Stay on the shoulder - If the shoulder is clear, stay on it until your vehicle has come to a complete stop. Signal and check your mirrors before pulling back onto the road.

Returning to the Road:

If you are forced to return to the road before you can stop, use the following procedures:

• Hold the wheel tightly and turn sharply enough to get right back on the road safely. Do not try to edge gradually back on the road. If you do, your tires might grab unexpectedly and you could lose control.
• When both front tires are on the paved surface, countersteer immediately. The two turns should be made as a single “steer-countersteer” move.

Stopping Quickly and Safely

If somebody suddenly pulls out in front of you, your natural response is to hit the brakes. This is a good response if there is enough distance to stop and you use the brakes correctly. You should brake in a way that will keep your vehicle in a straight line and allow you to turn if it becomes necessary. You can use the “controlled braking” or the “stab braking” methods.

Controlled Braking:

With this method, you apply the brakes as hard as you can without locking the wheels. Keep steering wheel movements very small while doing this. If you need to make a larger steering adjustment or if the wheels lock, release the brakes. Reapply the brakes as soon as you can.

Stab Braking:

Use only on vehicles without anti-lock brake systems.

• Apply your brakes all the way.
• Release brakes when wheels lock up.
• As soon as the wheels start rolling, apply the brakes fully again. (It can take up to 1 second for the wheels to start rolling after you release the brakes. If you reapply the brakes before the wheels start rolling, the vehicle will not straighten out.

Do not Jam on the Brakes:

Use only on vehicles without anti-lock brake systems. Emergency braking does not mean pushing down on the brake pedal as hard as you can. That will only keep the wheels locked up and cause a skid. If the wheels are skidding, you cannot control the vehicle

Note: If you drive a vehicle with anti-lock brakes, read and follow the directions for stopping quickly in the ownerʼs manual.