How to Stop Your Runaway Car

There have been many stories in the news lately about runaway cars. These incidents, which have caused several accidents and many scary moments, have led to the recall of thousands of vehicles. Although these incidents are rare, and will hopefully be significantly reduced by the recalls, the stories still make us think "what would I do in that situation?"

The best and safest thing you can do is to try to prevent this situation from happening to you. The main cause of runaway vehicles is a floor mat that becomes misaligned and holds down the accelerator. Since floor mats are frequently moved autel maxisys ms906, whether they are actually being taken out of the car to be cleaned, or simply shifting when the driver gets in and out of the car, they can easily become detached from their hooks or reattached improperly. It is important to frequently check the mats to make sure they have not moved too far up towards the pedals, where they can interfere with the accelerator. You should also make sure to reattach the mats properly whenever they are taken out. This includes rechecking their position after a car wash or service visit Autel MaxiSys Pro.

Another way to prevent this issue is to make sure you are using the correct floor mats for your vehicle, since using mats that are too large are likely to obstruct the pedals. Mats should also never be stacked on top of each other, such as placing a winter mat on top of the carpeted one. They should always be connected to the hooks to prevent movement. Finally, if you ever doubt the safety of a mat or its position, just take it out.

While prevention is important, it is even more imperative to know what to do in the case that you do find yourself in this situation. First, try to dislodge the floor mat from the pedal. You can do this by reaching down and pulling the mat back. If you are unable to dislodge the mat with your hand, place your shoe behind the accelerator and pull the pedal up. This method will be helpful for both a pedal that is stuck due to the mat or a defective pedal return spring. After using either of these methods, pull over and inspect the vehicle before continuing.

While being able to dislodge the pedal is the preferred way to stop your vehicle, it is not always possible. If this is the case, shift the transmission into neutral and brake to a stop. If you cannot put the car in neutral, shut off the engine or switch to ACC. Be warned that this will make the car difficult to steer and brake, but it will stop your vehicle. If your vehicle has a key ignition, turn the key to ACC but leave the key in. Removing it will cause the steering wheel to lock. If your vehicle has a start/stop button, each automaker has a different system for turning the engine off while the car is in drive. Check the owner's manual next time you are in your car to see what that method is. If none of the previous methods work, step on the brake pedal with both feet very firmly, but do not pump the brakes.

While the chances of having a runaway vehicle are very rare, it is still a good idea to test these techniques out to see which ones work best for you. Testing will also help make the actions more instinctual in case you do ever find yourself in this situation.

Al Wannestadt works as a freelance writer and marketer for companies like CarLocate, a web car listing service with new and used cars for sale. They are located at www.CarLocate.com . When he is off the clock, Al writes about and stays up-to-date on the latest marketing innovations, and follows the latest news about the automotive industry and cars.
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