Avoiding road accidents caused by car faults
There are many potential road accident hazards which are beyond the driver’s control. Your vehicle could let you down in a number of ways such as jammed car keys and a jammed steering lock that can prevent you from starting or re-starting your engine and moving off, headlamp failure, which may prevent you from being seen by other drivers and steering failure, which is unusual but extremely hazardous. www.car-accident-claim.com has provided a few recommendations about how you can avert these difficulties.
Jammed car keys
The lock barrel can become damaged from a worn key, which is the major cause of lock jam. Jammed car keys can be a huge inconvenience if you are unable to get to work in the morning and you have to call the breakdown services out. An even more troublesome and potentially dangerous example is turning your ignition off while in a traffic jam or at a railway crossing and your key becoming stuck as you try to restart the engine. This could cause a huge tail back and even result in a road accident. Therefore:
- Inspect your car keys regularly to make sure that they are not suffering from too much wear
- If your key is jammed wiggle the key carefully while moving the steering wheel to release the key
Jammed steering lock
Jammed steering lock is also a nuisance that can delay drivers from getting on their way. Again this could happen when you are out on the road which would be extremely embarrassing and could instigate road rage in other drivers. The most common cause of steering lock is the car’s load on the steering restricting enough movement to free the lock. The following methods may help with this problem:
- Turn the wheel from side to side for a minor wheel lock
- Pushing or rolling the car forward about a metre to ease the pressure
- Jack up the front of the car with both wheels raised off the ground to ease the load
Headlamp failure
It is a legal offence to drive knowingly without sufficient lighting on your motor vehicle as you are considered a high risk road accident hazard. However, it is not unusual for headlights to fail while you are out on the road. If one headlamp fails you should still have enough light to see you home. If both fail this is more serious; you are at risk of being hit by another vehicle that has not seen you and you could suffer serious personal injuries and substantial damage to your car so we suggest:
- Slow right down and drive with extra caution
- If behind another vehicle use its tail lights to guide you while you assess the situation
- Try flicking the headlamp switch on and off a few times in case there is a lose connection
- Use your hazard lights or indicators to make other traffic aware of you
- Find a convenient place to pull over and call for assistance
It is a good idea to carry spare bulbs with you in case of headlamp failure, a legal requirement in many European countries.
Steering failure
Although uncommon, this is an extreme case of vehicle failure that could be very frightening if it was to occur suddenly while out on a busy road. It will require quick reactions and a cool temperament to deal with steering failure. You will have to try and regain control of your vehicle fast to try and avoid a car crash or a serious multiple vehicle accident.
Mostly, steering failure is the result of a loss of power steering. You could lose power steering if a hydraulic pipe is damaged but power loss is usually gradual, and the increasing heaviness of the steering wheel would provide plenty of warning to get the problem fixed.
It is also possible for the mechanical linkage to break and cause steering failure. This will require stopping as soon as possible, and since you will lose directional control, slowing down then skidding to a halt may be the best option.
If you find that your steering is pulling to one side this may indicate that your tyre pressure is insufficient. We advise that you check out the condition of your tyres and get them filled with air at a local petrol station or garage if necessary. If there is no problem with your tyres then make sure you get the steering checked straight away. We advise that you do the following to prevent the likelihood of steering failure:
- Get your vehicle regularly checked over at a reputable garage
- Check the power steering fluid reservoir monthly for leaks
The following advice will be especially useful if your power steering gives out as a result of power steering component failure or engine failure:
- Move carefully to the side of the road, you may need all your strength to turn the wheel
- Bring your car to a halt, don’t hit the brakes hard unless you have power brakes which may be stiffer than usual
- Once you are sure the steering is functioning normally get back on the road and take your car to a garage to be checked over
- If the problem is still apparent then call for assistance from the breakdown services
Essentially, regular trips to the garage and good car maintenance is the key to spotting potential car faults before they develop and cause you to have a car crash. In case of a vehicle failure, a cool head and extra cautious driving while following our recommendations of how to deal with specific faults should prevent you from being a road accident hazard, allowing you to deal with the problem safely and efficiently.
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