Driving - Hazards

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/idt_hand_emerg.htm#hazards

Water on the Road - If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, slow down gradually–do not apply the brakes. 

Slippery Road -

• Wet road–go five–ten miles slower.
• Packed snow–reduce your speed by half.
• Ice–slow to a crawl.

Some road surfaces are more slippery than others when wet and usually have warning signs. Here are some clues to help you spot slippery roads:

• On cold, wet days, shade from trees or buildings can hide spots of ice. These areas freeze first and dry out last.
• Bridges and overpasses tend to freeze before the rest of the road does. They can hide spots of ice.
• If it starts to rain on a hot day, the pavement can be very slippery for the first several minutes. Heat causes oil in the asphalt to come to the surface. The oil makes the road slippery until the rain washes the oil off the surface of the road.

If you start to skid: Ease off the gas pedal, Stop braking, and Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid.

If you cannot control your vehicle on a slippery surface, try to find something to stop the skid. Try to get a wheel on dry pavement or on the shoulder of the road. You may have to edge slowly into a snow bank or some bushes to stop the vehicle.

Braking too hard at a high rate of speed can lock the wheels. The vehicle will skid no matter which way the steering wheel is turned. Take your foot off the brake to unlock the wheels. Then straighten the front wheels as the vehicle begins to straighten out. Slow the vehicle gradually until you are at a safe speed to continue driving.

If your accelerator becomes stuck you should:

1. Shift to neutral.
2. Apply the brakes.
3. Keep your eyes on the road.
4. Look for an alternate route away from traffic or look for a way out.
5. Warn other drivers by honking and flashing your emergency lights.
6. Try to drive the car safely off the road.
7. Stop and turn off the ignition.
   (WARNING: Turning the ignition off while the vehicle is moving locks the steering wheel of some vehicles and you will not have control of the steering.)

Never turn your vehicle’s ignition to the "lock" position while it is still in motion, or the steering will lock and you will lose control of your vehicle.