From The State of Missouri’s DMV

Most Important  Pray: Don’t Panic

HYDROPLANING — On wet pavement, your tires may ride on the water

rather than the pavement. This is known as “hydroplaning” and it refers to

loss of traction and control. Hydroplaning can happen at any speed over 35

mph. In a severe rainstorm, the tires can lose all contact with the road at

55 mph.

If you think your tires are hydroplaning, take your foot off the accelerator

and slow down. Do not hit the brakes, this may cause you to skid.

To avoid hydroplaning:

• Have good tires with deep treads on your vehicle.

• Keep tires properly inflated.

• Slow down during rainstorms or when the pavement is wet.

73

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES (ABS)

Four-wheel ABS is a safe, effective braking system when used properly. It

offers an important safety advantage by preventing the wheels from locking

during emergency braking situations. If your car is equipped with ABS, you

should be aware that under hard braking you may feel a pulsing in the

brake pedal. DO KEEP your foot on the brake. Maintain a firm and

continuous pressure on the brake while steering to enable the four-wheel

ABS to work properly. Remember, if your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock

brakes DON’T PUMP YOUR BRAKES, DON’T FORGET TO STEER, AND

DON’T BE ALARMED BY MECHANICAL NOISES AND/OR SLIGHT

PEDAL PULSATIONS. These conditions are normal and let you know the

ABS is working.

SKIDDING

Handling a skid is the same for front-wheel and rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Take your foot off the accelerator, but DO NOT hit the brakes.

• Gently turn your steering wheel in the direction that your rear wheels are

sliding.

• Be careful not to brake or turn sharply. Hitting the brakes or jerking the

steering wheel will only make the skid worse.

STEER INTO THE SKID

1. BEFORE 2.REAR 3. TURN 4. VEHICLE

SKID WHEELS FRONT STRAIGHT

SLIDE WHEELS AGAIN

TO RIGHT TO RIGHT

FOG

It is very dangerous to drive in fog. If you must drive in fog, you should:

• Reduce your speed.

• Be alert and ready to stop.

• Keep your headlights on low beam. In fog, you will see less if your lights

are on high beam.

• If the fog becomes so thick you cannot see, pull off the road and stop.

Leave your lights and emergency flashers ON.

HANDLING VEHICLE EMERGENCIES

The most important rule in any emergency is DO NOT PANIC. If you stay

calm, you will remember what you should do. If you have power steering or

a locking steering wheel, never turn off the ignition key until you have come

to a full stop.

BRAKE FAILURE: If your brake pedal suddenly sinks to the floor:

1. Pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times. If that does not

work…

2. Use your emergency or parking brake, but use it gradually.

3. Shift to a low gear and look for a place to slow to a stop.

4. Make sure your vehicle is off the road.

5. After the vehicle has stopped, call for help. Do not try to drive to a

garage.

TIRE BLOWOUT: If you have a tire blowout, you may hear a loud “bang”

then “thump, thump, thump.” The steering wheel may jerk, and you may

lose control of your vehicle.

1. Hold the steering wheel tightly.

2. Take your foot off the accelerator, but do not hit the brakes.

3. Let your vehicle slow to a stop completely off the road.

4. Apply the brakes when the vehicle is almost stopped.

5. Turn on your emergency flashers.

6. Change the tire only if you can do so without placing yourself in

danger.

RUNNING OFF THE PAVEMENT: If your wheels run off the paved edge

of the road, the wheels may pull to the right:

1. Hold the steering wheel tightly.

2. Take your foot off the accelerator, but do not hit the brakes. Only apply

gentle brake pressure if necessary.

3. When the vehicle has slowed and you have control of your vehicle, turn

back onto the pavement if the lane is free of traffic.

STEERING FAILURE: If your vehicle does not turn when you turn the

wheel:

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.

2. Let your vehicle slow down by itself. Do not hit the brakes until your

vehicle has almost stopped or unless you have to.

3. Turn on your emergency flashers.

HEADLIGHT FAILURE: If your vehicle’s headlights go out:

1. Try the dimmer switch or headlight switch, that might turn them on

again. If that does not work…

2. Put on the parking lights, emergency flashers, or turn signals.

3. Pull off the road, but leave the emergency flashers on.

STUCK ACCELERATOR: If you take your foot off the accelerator, but your

vehicle keeps going faster:

1. Hook your toe under the accelerator and see if you can free it. If that

does not work…

2. Shift into neutral and apply your brakes to slow down.

3. Pull off the road as soon as you can.

74

75

BLOCKED VISION: If your hood suddenly flies open, your windshield

wipers fail, or something else blocks your vision:

1. Roll down the window so you can look around whatever is blocking

your view.

2. Turn on your emergency flashers.

3. Pull your vehicle off the road.

VEHICLE APPROACHING HEAD-ON IN YOUR LANE:

1. Slow down.

2. Pull over to the right and sound your horn.

3. DO NOT swing over into the left lane. The other driver may pull back

over into that lane too.

STALLING ON RAILROAD TRACKS:

If a train is approaching:

1. Unfasten your seat belt, get out of your vehicle, and off the tracks.

2. Run in the direction the train is coming from. (If you run in the direction

the train is heading, you may be hit with debris when the train hits your

vehicle.)

If there is no train in sight:

1. Roll down your windows and listen for the train.

2. Try to start the engine. If that fails…

3. Put your vehicle in neutral and push it off the tracks.

12- AND 15-PASSENGER VAN SAFETY:

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that 12-

and 15-passenger vans are inherently unstable when loaded to the level for

which they are designed, carrying more than ten passengers. The NTSB

recommends that all drivers of 12- and 15-passenger vans obtain specific

training on the handling and operation of these types of vehicles. For more

information regarding 12- and 15-passenger van safety, you may visit the

NTSB’s web site at www.ntsb.gov.

IT IS GOOD TO PRACTICE DRIVING

IN BAD WEATHER, BUT TRY TO FIND

A SAFE LOCATION AWAY FROM TRAFFIC,

PEDESTRIANS, AND OTHER OBSTACLES