DON’T slam the brakes if you have engine trouble on the highway. If your car stalls or runs out of gas on the road, put your hazard lights on right away and release the accelerator, Carias says. “Try to veer to the right shoulder of the freeway and come to a safe stop,” then call roadside assistance or 911.
DON’T accelerate or slam the brakes if you’re skidding on ice. “Once you’ve already started sliding, you’re kind of going along for the ride,” Carias says. Cautiously turn your wheel in the direction you want the car to go, and straighten the wheel as you feel the car straighten out, according to AAA.
DO hop into the passenger seat while waiting for help in the right shoulder lane. It can be safer than sitting in the driver’s seat. You want to position yourself as far away from traffic as possible. And buckle up, Carias says.
DON’T turn on your high beams in heavy fog. “Fog is essentially water molecules. Shining bright light at those molecules is just going to reflect that light back to you and make it harder to see,” Carias says. Instead, turn on your headlights and fog lamps if you have them.
DO unbuckle your seatbelt and start to roll down the windows the moment your car falls into a body of water. “Don’t try to open the door,” Carias says. Once a vehicle is more fully submerged, the pressure from the water against the windows and doors can make it difficult to open them.
Escape through the open window and exit to safety. If you can’t roll down the window, “do your best to shatter the window using your elbow or whatever you can,” Carias says. For peace of mind, purchase a window punch to keep in your car.
DO keep emergency supplies in your car. That includes a first aid kit, water, jumper cables, a flashlight and blankets, Carias says. AAA also recommends keeping a basic set of tools and road flares or reflectors.
Real Life of an MSW 