Emergency Situations

A complete loss of braking is very uncommon in today's vehicles, but you'll want to know the drill anyway:

1. Pump the brake pedal to try to bring back hydraulic pressure for a moment
2. If pumping gets you nowhere, set the parking brake gently but firmly while you keep the release button held in
3. Practising a parking-brake emergency stop in a controlled setting with a qualified driving instructor is a smart idea

If your brakes give out and you do manage to stop, do NOT drive on. Call for help.

1. Start by trying to hook your foot under the pedal and lift it
2. Keep your hands off it -- never reach down while the car is in motion
3. If that fails:

• Switch on your hazard lights
• Shift into neutral
• Pull over and stop the moment you safely can, off the road if possible
• Switch off the ignition

1. Don't drive on. Call for help.

1. Check the headlight switch straight away
2. If the lights won't come back on, turn on your hazard lights
3. Ease off the road and come to a safe stop
4. Call for help

Driving after dark with no lights is both dangerous and illegal.

The instant something seems wrong, start moving toward the side. Don't wait around for the car to stall out on the freeway.

• Glance at your mirrors
• Switch on your hazard lights
• Lift your foot off the gas
• Get to the nearest shoulder as fast as you can
• Never come to a stop in the driving lanes

After stopping:

• Get out carefully and, if you can, use the door on the side away from traffic
• Leave the hood down
• Wait for help inside the car with the doors locked
• If a passerby stops, ask them to phone the police or your automobile club
• Use a cellular phone to call for help yourself if you have one with you
• The OPP patrols the QEW, the 400-series freeways, and plenty of other high-speed routes -- so stay with your car and help will reach you

1. Stay calm
2. Hold the steering wheel with a firm grip
3. Lift your foot off the gas to bleed off speed
4. Stay off the brakes for any hard braking
5. Once you have the car under control, steer back toward the pavement
6. Be ready to straighten your steering and pick up speed once both wheels are fully back on the pavement

A blowout can set off heavy steering pull and wheel vibration, but there's no need to panic:

1. Lift your foot off the gas to let the car slow
2. Steer firmly toward where you want to go
3. Bring the car to a stop off the road

Don't stamp on the brakes -- let the car coast down on its own while you keep control of the steering.

St. John Ambulance advises every driver to keep a well-stocked first-aid kit on hand and to know how to use it. Signing up for a first-aid course is worth considering.

Anyone involved in a collision is required to remain at the scene -- or return to it at once -- and give whatever help they can. Even if you weren't part of the crash yourself, you should pull over to assist when police or other officials haven't yet shown up.

Steps to follow:

1. Summon help yourself or have someone else do it. The law requires you to report a collision to police whenever there are injuries or the damage to vehicles or property runs above $2,000
2. Shut off every engine and turn on your emergency flashers, then put out warning signals or flares
3. Let no one smoke or strike a match near any vehicle, in case fuel is leaking
4. If a vehicle catches fire, get everyone out and keep them well clear
5. As long as there's no risk of fire or explosion, leave the injured where they are until trained medical responders arrive
6. If you've had first-aid training, tend to injuries in order of urgency -- clearing the airway, restoring breathing, and stopping bleeding
7. Without training, fall back on common sense -- drape a jacket or blanket over the person to ease shock
8. Stay beside the injured until help gets there
9. Do whatever you can to protect everyone from the disabled vehicles sitting on the road

1. If the vehicles still drive, get them as far off the road as you can -- doing so won't interfere with the police investigation. In a minor, injury-free crash, the rule is "Steer it, Clear it". If you can't move the vehicles, put out warning signals or flares
2. Phone police (provincial or local). The law requires reporting any collision once the damage tops $2,000
3. Offer all the help you can to police and to anyone whose vehicle was damaged. Hand over your name and address, the registered owner's name and address, the vehicle's plate and permit number, and your liability insurance card
4. Collect the names, addresses, and phone numbers of every witness
5. When the damage comes to less than $2,000, you still have to exchange information, but you don't have to report the crash to police
6. If you've got a camera or a camera phone and it's safe to use, photograph the collision scene
7. Should your vehicle need towing, write down the operator's or company's name, along with the tow truck's licence number, and be clear on where your car is headed
8. Reach out to your insurance company as quickly as you can if you plan to file a claim