Skill Set

Sticky Accelerator: Steps to Control

Imagine: You’re cruising down the highway at speed, hauling your equine friend. A car comes into your lane in front of you and slows down. You try to adjust your speed, but when you try to brake, you find that the accelerator is stuck down and you’re barreling out of control.

A sticky accelerator pedal can happen to any vehicle for a variety of reasons, ranging from a broken motor mount to an intrusive floor mat to a system glitch. The best way to deal with this emergency is to be prepared. Here’s what to do.

Stay calm. Your first instinct will be to immediately turn off the engine, but if you do, you’ll likely lose power steering, power braking, and turn-signal functions. Instead, follow these steps. • Shift into neutral. Immediately shift your vehicle into neutral. (If your tow vehicle has a manual transmission, remember to use the clutch when you shift gears.) The engine will continue to rev and may rev even higher with your vehicle out of gear.

Over-revving causes permanent engine damage. However, unlike vehicles made prior to the 1980s, modern vehicles have built-in devices designed to protect the engine from overrevving. • Pull over. Find the nearest, safest place to move off the road, out of traffic, and pull over. • Cut the engine. As soon as you’re out of traffic, turn off the engine. • Turn on your hazard lights. You’re likely pulled off on the shoulder of the road—perhaps barely making it out of traffic.

As soon as you cut the engine, turn on your hazard lights to enhance your visibility. Then take a breath, and calm your nerves so you can think clearly. • Call for a tow. Don’t attempt to restart your vehicle; call for a tow. If you’re a USRider Member, call the toll-free number on your membership card or packet, and tell the Member Service

Specialist you need to have your vehicle towed to the nearest dealer for your vehicle brand. Note that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) dealers have the latest information and

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for their vehicle brands, plus diagnostic equipment designed specifically for that vehicle. • Leave your horse inside. If it’s safe, you can get out and check on your horse, but don’t attempt to unload him. He could spook at the traffic noise and pull the lead rope out of your grasp. Leave him inside your trailer, where he’ll be safest. If you suspect or know he’s injured, call 9-1-1. The dispatcher will send a trained large animal rescue responder to assist you. If your tow vehicle accelerator pedal is stuck down, immediately shift your vehicle into neutral.

After you’ve shifted into neutral, find the nearest, safest place to move off the road, out of traffic, then turn off the engine.

As soon as you cut your tow vehicle’s engine, turn on the hazard lights to enhance your visibility to passing drivers.

When you’re safely out of traffic with your engine off, call for a tow. If you’re a USRider Member, call the toll-free number on your membership card or packet.

PHOTOS BY HEIDI MELOCCO