If your vehicle's accelerator sticks, what is the safest initial action?

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Multiple Choice

If your vehicle's accelerator sticks, what is the safest initial action?

When a vehicle’s accelerator sticks, your priority is to stay in control and get to a safe place as calmly as possible. The best first actions are to stay calm, shift to neutral if you can, brake steadily to slow down, and pull off the roadway when it’s safe to do so. Shifting to neutral disconnects the engine’s power from the wheels, which helps prevent further unintended acceleration. Braking gives you control over your speed, and moving the car off the road reduces the risk to you and others. Turning off the engine right away can make steering and braking harder because power steering and power brakes may rely on the engine. Accelerating harder or steering into traffic to “stop” would create greater danger.

When a vehicle’s accelerator sticks, your priority is to stay in control and get to a safe place as calmly as possible. The best first actions are to stay calm, shift to neutral if you can, brake steadily to slow down, and pull off the roadway when it’s safe to do so. Shifting to neutral disconnects the engine’s power from the wheels, which helps prevent further unintended acceleration. Braking gives you control over your speed, and moving the car off the road reduces the risk to you and others.

Turning off the engine right away can make steering and braking harder because power steering and power brakes may rely on the engine. Accelerating harder or steering into traffic to “stop” would create greater danger.

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