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Tips for New Drivers
Equipment Failure
Crashes often happen when equipment fails. Your most important aid is remaining calm. Equipment failures may include:BLOWOUTS
A thumping sound may be a warning of a blowout. If this happens, ease your foot off the gas pedal and keep a firm grasp on the steering wheel. Do not brake suddenly. Pull safely off the roadway and check your tires.
LOSS OF A WHEEL
React as you would with a blowout. Ease off the gas pedal and pull off the roadway.
STEERING FAILURE
If you suddenly have no control of the steering wheel, ease your foot off the gas pedal. Turn on your emergency flashers and allow your vehicle to come to a slow stop. Brake very gently to prevent your vehicle from spinning.
BRAKE FAILURE
If your brake pedal suddenly sinks to the floor, pump it to build pressure. If that does not work, use your emergency or parking brake. To slow down, shift your vehicle into a lower gear.
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
If your headlights fail suddenly, try your emergency flashers, parking lights and/or turn signals. Pull off the road. If your lights begin to dim, drive to a service station or pull off the road and seek help.
STUCK GAS PEDAL
If the gas pedal becomes stuck, hook your toe under it to free it. If it does not become free, shift your vehicle into neutral and brake gently to slow down. If you have power steering or a locking steering wheel, do not turn off the ignition, you will lose either your power steering or your ability to steer.
BLOCKED VISION
If for any reason your vision becomes blocked, roll down the side window to see. Turn on your emergency flashers and then pull your vehicle off the road.
Being Pulled Over by Law Enforcement
- Slow down and pull over safely as soon as possible. If the police vehicle is unmarked and you cannot identify the driver as a police officer, drive slowly and carefully below the speed limit to a well-lit, populated spot and pull over, or go to the nearest police station, attempt to attract the attention of a uniformed officer or call 911.
- Stay in the driver’s seat with both hands clearly in sight on the steering wheel until the officer instructs you otherwise or the traffic stop is complete. Do not exit your vehicle unless asked to do so. Getting out of your car can be perceived as aggressive behavior and a threat to the officer’s safety. Turn on your interior light if stopped at night.
- Comply with the officer’s request to see your driver’s license and proof of insurance. If these items are in the glove box or under the seat, inform the officer of that fact and then follow his/her directions before retrieving them.
- If you are issued a ticket requiring a signature, sign it. Signing a ticket is not an admission of guilt—only an acknowledgment of receiving the ticket.
- If you are suspected of drunk driving, cooperate with the officer(s) on the scene. If you refuse to submit to breath, blood or performance tests, your refusal could result in loss of driving privileges.
- Get out of the automobile only if asked to do so.
- Be aware that you may have committed some minor traffic violation without realizing it, there may be some problem with your vehicle of which you are unaware, or you might be driving a vehicle that is similar to one used in a serious crime. Many officers will not provide specific reasons for the stop until they have your license and insurance card in hand. Therefore, they will avoid having to debate the reason for the stop before they receive these items from you.
- If you wish to offer an explanation of your circumstances when stopped, do so before the officer returns to his vehicle. The officer cannot void the ticket once it has been written. Cooperate during the incident even if you believe you haven’t committed an offense. If you believe you have been treated unfairly, present your case in traffic court and not to the officer along the roadway.
- You are to be treated with dignity and respect by the officer. If you believe that an officer has acted inappropriately during a traffic stop or other encounter, you should report that conduct as soon as possible to the officer’s superiors.
- Officers are required to provide their names and badge number upon request.
