Common Road Hazards and How to Handle Them

December 10, 2020

Dangerous driving conditions are more common than one would think. It is more important than ever to practice safe driving techniques in case of a road hazard such as inclement weather, or faulty vehicle functions. When dangerous road conditions occur, do you know what to do and how to control them? Pugh’s Tire and Service Center, your local Washington tire shop has generated this short list of common road hazards and how to handle them:


  1. Icy Roads. Nothing can jolt a driver like the sudden loss of control when hitting a slicked over patch of pavement. While some ice is noticeable and avoidable, “black ice” can be hard to prepare for. If your car begins to skid or loses traction, the best thing to do is remove your foot off of the gas. If you have standard braking, keep your foot entirely off the brake as well and wait for your car to come to a halt. If you have an automatic braking system (ABS), you want to push the brake pedal down and hold it until the car regains traction. Turn the wheel in the direction you want the front of the car to go, then once the vehicle begins to straighten out, steer the opposite way or “counter-steer”. This should be done three to five times while braking, and until you can feel the wheels back on pavement. 
  2. Heavy Rain. Many don’t associate a torrential downpour with being as hazardous as a snowstorm, but nonetheless, heavy rains can impede visibility and cause hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is when the amount of water under a car is enough to lift the wheels off of the pavement and onto the surface of the water, resulting in the driver losing traction and control. To try and prevent this, and for safer driving all together, make sure your tire’s tread is no less than 5/32 of an inch deep. If hydroplaning occurs, remain calm and wait for the car to stop moving. Do not press the gas or the brake, until the car has come to a complete stop, and your wheels have regained traction. Bring your vehicle into Pugh’s Tire, Washington tire shop to get your tread inspected or to purchase new tires Washington NC for better traction.
  3. Fog. Driving through fog can hinder visibility in a way similar to a bad snowfall, or intense rain. Your first instinct might be to put on your high beams, but refrain from doing so. Instead, keep your lights dim and slow down. Only drive as fast as you can see the road in front of you, and if visibility is excruciating low, find a safe place to pull over and wait it out. 
  4. A blown tire. Driving over a sharp object in the road, hitting an aggressive pot hole, or running your tires too thin are just a few reasons for a tire to lose pressure quickly and blow out completely. In this case, your first step is to remain calm and try to get off of the road as quick, yet safely, as possible. Keeping two hands on the steering wheel, turn on your flashers and make your way to the shoulder of the road, where you can safely change your tire or bring it to Pugh’s Tire and Service Center, your local Washington tire shop for new tires Washington NC.
  5. Brake failure. The ability to stop a moving vehicle has to be the most important function of them all, and when your brakes fail, it’s easy to panic. If you are in a moving vehicle, and try to push the brakes, yet nothing is happening, immediate action should be taken. First, turn your emergency flashers on and pump the brakes three or four times. Quickly check with your feet or eyes to make sure that your floor mat isn’t caught up behind the brake pedal. If this isn’t the reason, shift your car into neutral to deprive the car of the forward motion. Next, take your emergency brake and pump it up and down or on and off. The brake should lock up the rear wheels and allow the car to come to a stop. Once you have come to a complete stop, call for help. 


Above all, the first action to take in an emergency is to remain calm. When visibility is reduced or restricted, slow down and drive at a safe speed. If your car is having issues, turning your flashers on and pulling over is the safest option. Driving can be very dangerous if not done so properly. If you experience any of these hazards contact or bring your vehicle in to Pugh’s Tire and Service Center to make it optimal for driving today.