What to do when the car loses control?
In cases of car loss of control, staying calm is the "key" to help drivers handle the situation in the best possible way.
How to handle when car loses control
In case of loss of control, the most important thing is for the driver to stay calm and react decisively to minimize casualties and losses. If the road ahead is dry and empty, brake suddenly to stop the car immediately.
If the road surface is wet, it is necessary to apply the brakes to maintain control of the direction of travel. Because when the wheels are locked, there is no lateral traction, the car will skid. The driver needs to shift to a lower gear and brake with the engine.
If the road is crowded or it is a highway, the first thing to do is to signal with lights and horns to let other road users know. Vehicles running at night need to turn on hazard lights and flash their low beams continuously to attract attention. Slow down to give other vehicles enough time to react.
Coordinate the release of foot brake, hand brake, and gear shift to control the vehicle. Prepare for a collision. If the distance between you and the vehicle behind has increased, the option of sudden braking should also be considered.
If the vehicle only loses power steering, the driver must hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands to maintain control. Try to slow down gradually, turn on the hazard warning lights or turn on the overtaking lights. Carefully move the vehicle to an area where it can be parked safely. Never brake suddenly or drive too slowly, as this will make manual steering more difficult.
Why do cars lose control?
A car losing control is a phenomenon where the driver loses control of the vehicle. Most of these situations happen suddenly, quickly and unexpectedly, so much so that the driver may not have time to react. The driver is completely unable to handle the problems that will occur, so the risk of an accident is very high.
Usually, the causes of car loss of control will be divided into two groups as follows: Poor driving skills of the driver or problems related to technical problems of the car.
Loss of control due to technical errors of the vehicle can be due to a flat tire while driving on the road, engine or other vehicle components being damaged, or steering system alignment not being as accurate as standard.
Loss of control due to driver error. It can be due to the driver not controlling the speed, driving too fast, cornering recklessly, poor driving technique, especially when the vehicle is moving on slippery roads.
