Don’t Keep Driving: Three Times You Should Always Pull Over

As a girl I am often a bit confused by a clunk or clink that turns out to be nothing. Just some random thingamabob or dohickey settling into place or just getting old.

But every one in awhile things really go wrong on the road and everyone should be prepared.

It’s so much easier to pretend like you didn’t hear a noise, smell something funny or notice that something feels different while you’re driving. However easier isn’t always better and in the instance that something could potentially cause an accident or damage your vehicle, you’re best bet is to pull over immediately. Here are three times when you should always slow to the side and evaluate the situation.




1. Losing something important



I think we’ve all had that moment while driving when we realize we’ve dropped something we were either using or about to use, perhaps a tube of chap stick or a CD. The problem is that when you drop something while operating your car, you seriously run the risk of wrecking. At highway speeds, you could end up in the ditch or even hitting another driver. It’s simply not worth the risk. Pull over onto the shoulder, pick up what you needed and return safely to the road.



2. Suddenly hearing a loud noise



While you’re on the road, you car shouldn’t be making any loud, sudden or strange noises. Often times, you may have just hit debris in the road, however there’s always a chance it could be something more significant. The way I see it, if you pull over, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you hit something that was in the road and it was a one time noise, then you can inspect your tires to make sure there’s no immediate damage. If it’s something more serious, such as your engine, then it’s better to discontinue travel as opposed to continuing on and doing more damage.



3. A Change in Handling Ability



I think everyone, well at least those of us who live in areas where the weather changes drastically on a frequent basis, are used to slowing down when the roads become snow packed or icy. However most of us also probably believe driving slower will eliminate risk when handling abilities change. If you notice something feels different while steering, then you need to pull over. Not only can weather cause a change in handling ability, but a tire blowout or loose tire rods could be the culprit and are far more detrimental than weather.