Halloween is a scary time of year but there is nothing spookier than when something unexpected happens and you are behind the wheel. It is always important to make sure you are paying attention to the road and other vehicles around you, but sometimes unpreventable and dangerous situations occur. Here are our 5 scariest things that could happen to you on the road.
1. A Smoking Engine
- If the smoke coming from your engine is blue, it means oil is burning and you should immediately pull over, get out of the car, and call for assistance.
- There are a few common problems that can cause oil to burn including: worn valve stem seals, worn rings, and not changing your car’s oil regularly.
- White smoke is generally caused by an overheated engine.
- Make sure you regularly have your car serviced to check all aspects of the engine and make sure everything is working properly.
2. Brake Failure
- If your brake pedal can be pushed to the floor or a small red light appears on your dashboard, you should pull over immediately and call for assistance. Your car is no longer safe to drive.
- Do not drive without working brakes you are a danger to everyone on the road, including yourself!
- Get your brakes checked regularly to ensure that if the pads are wearing thin, you can get them replaced before an accident occurs.
3. Tire Blow-Out
- Do not panic. If you try to over-correct or hit the brakes there is a good chance you will lose control of the vehicle.
- Do not step on the brake if your tire blows. Applying any amount of pressure on the brake will cause more instability.
- Ease off the gas pedal when pulling off to the side of the road. If you release the accelerator too quickly, the weight of the car will be transferred between the front and back axel unevenly and can lead to a loss of control.
4. Loss of Steering
- If you lose control of steering while you are driving, there is a chance that there may be a broken belt that you need to get checked out.
- Losing control of your car is very scary, try and remember not to over-correct the steering wheel to prevent you from driving into a parallel lanes.
- When you safely get to the shoulder, call for assistance.
5. Animals
- Unfortunately, animals are the cause of many accidents. They can appear out of nowhere and give you minimal time to react.
- Do not swerve into other lanes of traffic. This is the easiest way to lose control of your vehicle.
- The fall is the most common time of the year for deer-related accidents, which result in car damage.
- Driving at dawn and dusk may increase your chances of encountering an animal on the road.
- If you have been involved in an accident with a deer, make sure you immediately get your car inspected for damage. Run-ins with deer can be costly and it is good to remain diligent about servicing your car after an encounter.
Happy Halloween and Safe Driving!
