Quickly and efficiently handle 13 unexpected incidents while driving a car.

Unexpected incidents such as tire blowouts, brake failure, and broken windows are unavoidable when driving a car. However, we need to remain calm to handle them quickly and safely.

Car tire blowout

A tire blowout causes the vehicle to lose balance and leads to collisions and unfortunate accidents. A blown tire creates a loud bang that can cause the driver to lose composure and easily lead to unexpected accidents.

Therefore, to minimize risks, drivers should follow these steps in order:

- Prevent the car from veering off course by pressing the accelerator pedal all the way down while holding it down.

- Gradually release the accelerator to maintain speed, paying special attention to keeping the vehicle in the correct lane.

- Pull over to the side of the road to wait for the tow truck.

Tire tread peeling

Simply put, tire tread separation occurs when the tread layer, containing the steel frame, separates from the inner core of the tire. According to experienced automotive experts, tire tread separation is even more dangerous than a tire blowout because this process can happen in seconds or even days. A detached tread is accompanied by a loud noise, followed by the sound of metal hitting the road.

The way to handle a tire tread detachment is similar to dealing with a tire blowout:

- Press the accelerator for a few seconds and then slowly release it.

- Stay in your lane and slowly pull over to the side of the road.

Broken car window

In the case of a small crack in the glass, the driver can fix it by applying a layer of clear adhesive. However, if the glass shatters, drive slowly and lower the remaining window to maintain balance inside the vehicle. Remember to turn on your hazard lights.

The steering wheel is difficult to control.

While driving, if you find the steering wheel difficult to control, quickly turn on the turn signal and pull over to the side of the road. Then, check the power steering pump belt for any cracks or damage.

Headlights are missing.

If your car's headlights suddenly go out, check if the bulb is burned out. If not, check the fuse.

Brake failure

Experienced drivers say that brake failure is a top-priority emergency and the most likely to cause panic. The feeling of pressing the brake pedal deeply without any effect could be due to a leak in the brake lines. Or, if the brakes feel stiff, it could be due to a clogged brake line. It could also be due to the brakes locking up...

Staying calm is the most important factor in handling a brake failure emergency:

- Continuously tap the brake pedal in the hope that the system can be restored.

- Use the parking brake smoothly.

- Slow down by downshifting to slow the vehicle.

The absolute thing to avoid is turning off the engine. Doing so will disable the power steering system and make controlling the vehicle even more difficult.

In the worst-case scenario, choose a soft barrier such as bushes or a puddle of mud, or choose the smallest possible angle of impact, avoiding a direct collision with a hard object.

Stuck accelerator pedal

Stuck accelerator pedal is another common problem when driving a car. Before stopping, make sure you're not going to be hit by a car behind you. New drivers often confuse the brake pedal with the accelerator pedal. If you accidentally press the wrong pedal, immediately remove your foot from the pedal to calmly assess the situation.

If the throttle gets stuck, the driver must immediately shift the gear lever to neutral or depress the clutch pedal to disengage the transmission. If it is not possible to shift to neutral, the engine must be turned off. For cars that start with a push button, the only way is to shift to neutral.

Sliding wheel

Whether the front or rear wheels skid, it can put the driver, passengers, and other vehicles in a dangerous situation. For front wheel skid, the driver should release the foot pedal and not use the brakes or steer. The only thing to do is wait until the front wheels regain traction.

Meanwhile, for the rear wheels, the driver needs to anticipate when the rear wheels will slip, quickly regain a sufficient angle, and anticipate when traction will return.

Sudden acceleration

Sudden acceleration problems have similar symptoms to a stuck throttle. However, the cause doesn't stem from a technical engine fault but rather from the driver's carelessness when using the accelerator pedal. Many drivers panic when encountering unexpected situations on the road and mistakenly press the accelerator pedal, especially those driving automatic cars.

Try to familiarize yourself with the car and absolutely avoid speeding in unfamiliar vehicles. However, if you still feel disoriented, follow the same steps as when dealing with a stuck accelerator pedal.

Lane departure

This is a common occurrence when cornering or avoiding oncoming traffic on narrow streets, causing the driver to steer, sending both wheels off the road. Of course, this is dangerous if the roadside is not a flat surface.

Slowly reduce speed, do not use the brakes, and steer at a very small angle to bring the car back into the lane. Absolutely avoid steering at a wide angle, as the outer surface may not accommodate the wheel's rotation and could lead to a serious accident.

The car has a strange smell and smoke coming from the hood.

The cause of this problem could be due to oil leaking into the engine's exhaust manifold or a leak in the coolant line, causing coolant to leak into the engine.

Stop the car and check. If it's true, take it to a repair shop. If not, call roadside assistance to avoid a fire or explosion.

The clutch pedal is loose.

Whether it's a new or old car, malfunctions of the clutch and brake pedal are inevitable. The solution is to shift the gear lever to the third position, release the handbrake, start the engine, gently press the accelerator, and turn on the hazard lights. Then, drive slowly to safely reach a repair shop.

The car's temperature is too high.

If you notice your car's temperature is too high and the temperature warning light comes on, you should immediately stop the car and check the cooling system. In fact, the high temperature is due to a problem with the engine cooling system.

If the drive belt connected to the pump is damaged, it's best not to continue driving. Or wait 30 minutes for the engine to cool down before driving to a garage for inspection.

If the warning light is still on, it's best to call for roadside assistance to avoid fire or damage to the engine.

According to VNN