When driving in extraordinarily wet circumstances, decelerate and switch in your headlights. “I’ve slightly saying that goes, ‘in case your wipers are going, your headlights are glowing,'” says Hector Carias, an officer with the California Freeway Patrol.
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When you’ve got a driver’s license, you need to know the essential guidelines of the street. Buckle your seat belt. Use your flip sign. Cease on the crimson mild.
However there could also be eventualities on the street that you just really feel much less ready for. What do you have to do in case your automobile begins to skid on ice? If somebody is being aggressive towards you on the freeway? In case your automobile falls right into a physique of water?
Hector Carias, an officer with the California Freeway Patrol, explains what to do in these emergency conditions. The bottom line is to remain vigilant, he says. “Driving ought to take 100% of your focus, 100% of the time. Being defensive behind the automobile can solely deliver optimistic outcomes.”
Motorized vehicle crashes are a number one reason behind demise in the US, killing greater than 120 folks on a regular basis, in response to 2022 knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
However they’re preventable. Carias, who works out of CHP’s Central Division workplace in Fresno, Calif., shares his prime street security do’s and don’ts.
1. DON’T velocity. It could possibly make it tougher to keep away from potential hazards on the street, and it may make automobile crashes extra extreme, Carias says. If somebody is tailgating you, “transfer over one lane and allow them to go. There is not any purpose so that you can velocity up.”
2. DO name 911 when you’re being threatened by one other driver. “If somebody is brandishing a firearm or a automobile has been following you, contact 911,” Carias says. Do not interact. Officers will ship assist. If they cannot get to your location on the freeway, “Do not cease. Our dispatch will keep on the cellphone with you and provide you with instructions to a delegated location, the place an officer will attempt to meet you.”
3. DON’T slam the brakes when you’ve got engine hassle on the freeway. In case your automobile stalls or runs out of gasoline on the street, put your hazard lights on instantly and launch the accelerator, Carias says. “Attempt to veer to the proper shoulder of the freeway and are available to a protected cease,” then name roadside help or 911.
Sitting within the passenger’s seat might be safer than sitting within the driver’s seat when you’re parked on the proper shoulder of the street awaiting assist. And bear in mind to buckle up.
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4. DO hop into the passenger seat whereas ready for assist in the proper shoulder lane. It may be safer than sitting within the driver’s seat. You need to place your self as far-off from visitors as attainable. And buckle up, Carias says.
5. DO get as far-off out of your automobile as attainable when you see smoke or flames popping out of the engine. Within the occasion of a automobile fireplace, pull over, flip off the engine and transfer your self not less than 100 ft away from the burning automobile, in response to the U.S. Hearth Administration. Do not attempt to battle the hearth.
6. DO decelerate in excessive wet circumstances. “Give your self extra time to be reactive” to street hazards, Carias says. And switch in your headlights. Rain could make it exhausting to see the street and for different drivers to see you. “I’ve slightly saying that goes, ‘in case your wipers are going, your headlights are glowing.'”
7. DON’T speed up or slam the brakes when you’re skidding on ice. “As soon as you have already began sliding, you are type of going alongside for the journey,” Carias says. Cautiously flip your wheel within the route you need the automobile to go, and straighten the wheel as you’re feeling the automobile straighten out, in response to AAA.
8. DON’T flip in your excessive beams in heavy fog. “Fog is basically water molecules. Shining brilliant mild at these molecules is simply going to mirror that mild again to you and make it tougher to see,” Carias says. As a substitute, flip in your headlights and fog lamps when you’ve got them.
The second your automobile falls right into a physique of water, unbuckle your seatbelt and roll down the home windows. Do not open the door.
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9. DO unbuckle your seatbelt and begin to roll down the home windows the second your automobile falls right into a physique of water. “Do not attempt to open the door,” Carias says. As soon as a automobile is extra absolutely submerged, the stress from the water in opposition to the home windows and doorways could make it troublesome to open them.
Escape by the open window and exit to security. If you cannot roll down the window, “do your finest to shatter the window utilizing your elbow or no matter you may,” Carias says. For peace of thoughts, buy a window punch to maintain in your automobile.
10. DO hold emergency provides in your automobile. That features a first support package, water, jumper cables, a flashlight and blankets, Carias says. AAA additionally recommends maintaining a primary set of instruments and street flares or reflectors.
This episode was produced by Margaret Cirino. The digital story was edited by Meghan Keane. The visible editor is Beck Harlan. We would love to listen to from you. Depart us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or e-mail us at LifeKit@npr.org.
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