While driving on an expressway during a severe downpour, your windshield wipers suddenly freeze and fail completely, making forward vision nearly impossible. What action should you take immediately to maintain control and safely clear the roadway?
- Slow down gradually, open your side window to maintain visual reference ahead, activate hazard lights, and pull safely onto the shoulder.Answer
- BSlam firmly on the brake pedal to come to a swift and complete stop in your current lane of travel.
- CIncrease your speed to reach the upcoming highway exit as quickly as possible before traffic stops.
- DTurn off the ignition key immediately while moving to reset the electric wiper system.
Answer
The driver should slow down gradually, open the side window to look outside to maintain a visual reference, switch on hazard warning lights, and carefully maneuver to a safe location off the roadway.
When windshield wipers fail in heavy rain, easing off the accelerator prevents sudden traction loss or rear-end collisions. Rolling down the side window gives the driver direct visual contact with the road edge and lane markings, allowing safe navigation to the shoulder while hazard lights alert surrounding traffic.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Emergency Protocol for Total Windshield Wiper Failure