Driving In Emergency Situations

Crashes. Head-on collisions. Skids. Tire blowouts. None of these sound fun, but they can happen -- even to the world’s most cautious driver. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared for driving in emergency situations. You don’t want to be the driver who causes car crashes, but rather the one understands their implications and reacts accordingly in the event of an emergency. Want to avoid a wreck? Put your learning cap on and get ready to be schooled on some safe driving strategies and ways to be an expert at emergency driving.

Videos On How to Drive Safely In Emergency Situations

Common Causes of Car Crashes

Don’t be the driver on the side of the road in need of emergency services. Don’t be the person that the emergency vehicle is rescuing. Be aware of the common causes of motor vehicle crashes so that you’re not the person involved in one. Check out our video courses on the most common causes of accidents -- an informed driver is a smart driver after all.

Distracted Driving

Put those cell phones down and keep both hands on the steering wheel. Texting while driving is never okay. Ever. Bae can wait on those kissy face emoji texts you're trying to send. (And not to burst your bubble, but hands-free devices aren’t much better.)

Going Over the Speed Limit

Think you have the need for speed? That police officer with a radar gun probably won’t agree. You could end up with a ticket, or worse. So take your lead foot off the gas pedal and stay within the speed limit. Law enforcement officials don't take speeding lightly, and neither should you.

Teen Car Crashes

Teenagers make up the age group most likely to get into a motor vehicle accident. The most common reason is? Driver error, as opposed to car or environmental factors. Teenagers are brand new to the driver seat, so their driving skills and reaction times are not as refined as that of older adults. That’s why it’s important for teens to pay close attention to drivers education and listen to their driving instructor before getting behind the wheel. Teach knows what’s up.

Potential Roadside Emergencies

Even if you do everything right -- follow traffic signals, change lanes correctly, refrain from text messaging, adhere to speed limits, increase following distance in snow and ice, and check your blind spots -- you still might end up as the one needing an emergency response. Luckily, if you’re fully aware of and prepared for driving in emergencies, you’ll be much better off. We're not trying to scare you, but this is some serious stuff, capeesh?

Wear your seat belt … always! Click it or ticket, guys. A safety belt could save your life and keep you from taking a ride in an emergency vehicle.
Know that defensive driving is a life-saving strategy. Follow traffic laws, but don’t expect that others always will. Have situational awareness and stay alert!
Take the right steps if involved in a car crash. Pullover. Put on your parking brake. Turn on your emergency flashers. Cooperate with law enforcement officers and the emergency medical team. If you have a personal injury, be sure to seek medical attention ASAP.
Always have a basic emergency kit on hand. The more prepared you are for a sudden emergency, the better. You can find different emergency car kit lists online and determine which would work best for you based on your location and the usual weather conditions there.
Keep weather conditions in mind when you're on the road. Driving in heavy rain or snow and ice means you should be taking extra safety precautions. This can also affect what kinds of items you should have on your emergency car kit checklist- like hats, gloves, and kitty litter.

Remember: Even safe drivers can get in accidents. So just continue to be aware of other drivers and do your part to be responsible on the road. Being conscious of your surroundings, and practicing safe driving habits can help you prevent personal injury or a medical emergency. Until the world is filled with self-driving cars and in-car computers, we’ll still have to deal with human error in car accidents. Personally, I’d rather have a self-driving magic carpet, but that’s up to Google and/or that genie from Aladdin to bring me one.