How to Control a Runaway Car When You’re in One

Drive on ice. Driving on snow. Driving in the rain. Even just driving on dry pavement. Anyone can find themselves in what I call a “collision situation.” Someone runs a red light, swerves into your lane, or two other cars start to tangle right in front of you.

In a split second, you go from enjoying a nice relaxing ride to being behind the wheel of a car spinning out of control… Or is that it? Does it have to be out of control or is there a way to maintain at least partial control?

My sister Gwen and I were talking a while ago about this kind of situation. I was traveling to the Whistler ski resort on a winding mountain road, in the dead of winter, for about an hour a day each way. The newspapers had just published a story about another death on the road. A car had tried to pass another car on a blind corner and collided head-on with one coming from the opposite direction.

My sister’s comment was that she was afraid to drive on the freeway because there was NOTHING you could do in a situation like that. Her opinion was that it was better for you to give up.

I could not believe it! I looked at her in amazement and said “There is ALWAYS a way out!” I told him that even on a two-lane road, there is usually room for three cars to pass, even if two of them have to use part of the shoulder. Even in the worst case, he could crash into the side of the mountain instead of going head-on. (worst possible collision)

But I thought that Gwen had expressed a thought that many drivers have. Unless everything goes according to plan, they feel like there isn’t much you can do. That’s completely untrue and you don’t have to be a stunt man to get out of most situations.

So I told him to think that no matter what happens, there is ALWAYS a way out. There is always a gap to be created. Even if it’s a small one that pushes out the sides of the car as you go, there’s always a gap. It doesn’t have to be very big.

But maybe you just turn a corner a little fast, or hit some ice in the winter. If you find yourself sliding sideways down the road, or even doing a 360, just look and go where you want to go. (this will make it ‘steer into the skid’ like we were told to do… which I always found confusing…) You might be looking out the passenger side window for a second, or even out the rear window, but keep looking and directing where you want to go.

The next step is never, never, never give up. Keep fighting for control and you will probably finish him off.

I told Gwen to work on changing her mind too. To start thinking while she drives that there is always a way out of anything that happens. Even if there isn’t, you have a much better chance of coming out unscathed with this mindset than with the old one.

So remember the three keys to getting out of a collision situation with minimal damage:
1. There is ALWAYS a gap. Wait for it and wait for it to open.
2. Look and steer where you want to go.
3. Never, ever give up.

Let’s go with the fun.

Be fast, be safe, be precise.

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