It is well known that the road can be a very dangerous place. Whether you are a first-time driver or have years of experience, there is always the possibility of finding yourself in a difficult and unpleasant situation while driving. Things like inclement weather, unsafe road conditions, or mechanical car issues can pose real threats to drivers and vehicles, leading to unexpected crashes, severe injuries, and fatal consequences.
Although there are many safety precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of such incidents, it is also wise to be aware of all the things that can happen while driving, as well as know how to react.
In this post, we outline five things you can expect to happen when on the road.
Your car can suffer from engine problems
Generally speaking, the engine is considered the heart of any functioning car. If it shows any signs of breakage, damage, or malfunctions, you are looking at some very serious issues which may be difficult to diagnose and repair. Some common engine problems you can encounter while driving includes poor oil lubrication, car jerking, weird noises, foul smells, and smoke signals.
The best way to prevent any of these issues is to take your car to a local service for maintenance and repairs. For instance, if you live in Edmonton, the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta, make use of the best CSN collision Edmonton services that will keep your vehicle in check at all times and reduce the possibility of engine issues.
Your hood starts smoking
Another common issue you can encounter while driving is smoke coming from underneath your car’s hood. Although this is usually a more complicated situation that requires more than a basic side-of-the-road diagnosis, it is important to know what causes your vehicle to smoke and what you can do to fix it.
In most cases, the smoke is a result of the dripping or leaking of fluids, such as antifreeze, oil, water, or brake oil, causing black or white smoke. To fix it, you need to first pull over and do a quick visual inspection without touching anything. Then, call a friend or a tow to get your car where it needs to be.
A tire blowout
A tire blowout can happen due to a variety of reasons, with the most frequent ones being road irregularities and damage, too much weight, punctures, low air, uneven tread, and old or defective tires. To recognize a blowout, you will probably hear a loud noise, usually like an explosion, and then a whooshing sound as the air escapes your tire.
The first step you need to take when encountering this road issue is to pull over to a safe place on the side of the road to change the tire. To prevent tire blowouts in the future, make sure you perform regular tire maintenance.
Your brakes stop working
After your engine and transmission, your brakes are the most important part of your car. Any brake failures that may happen while driving can be extremely dangerous and increase the chances of getting into life-threatening accidents.
In general, your brakes can stop working due to a few reasons, including loss of brake fluid, bad brake cylinder, and the brake booster going bad. When any of these things happen, your car’s warning light will light up, indicating that a brake failure has occurred. You will hear a grinding sound when you press the pedal down, as well as feel a burning smell. It is important that you stop driving and call for help immediately.
Get into an accident
Even if your car is in great working order, there is always the risk of getting into an accident while driving. In most cases, the main causes of accidents and crashes on the road are due to human errors. Some of the most common ones include overspeeding, drunken driving, distractions while driving, avoiding safety gear, and not adhering to lane driving.
The best way to reduce the likelihood of car accidents and mitigate the risks of suffering severe injuries and fatal consequences is to practice safe driving. This includes:
- Keeping your distance;
- Driving strategically;
- Don’t get distracted;
- Don’t drive under the influence;
- Obeying road rules and regulations.
Final thoughts
No matter how good of a driver you are, there is always the possibility of encountering problems when on the road. These problems can either be mechanical issues or failure to practice road safety, all of which can lead to severe accidents and crashes.
For more information, refer to our post and learn about the most common things you can come across while driving.