If your vehicle's accelerator sticks open while driving, what should you do?

When the accelerator of your vehicle sticks open, it causes the engine to continue to rev and the car to gain speed, creating a dangerous situation. Turning off the ignition is the most effective way to regain control of the vehicle. However, it is critical to do this carefully to avoid locking the steering wheel, which would make the vehicle impossible to steer and could lead to further loss of control.

In this situation, while it may be advisable to activate your four-way flashers to warn other drivers, simply turning on the flashers does not address the immediate danger of the vehicle accelerating uncontrollably. Additionally, slamming on the brakes might not be effective if the vehicle is speeding up due to the stuck accelerator. Blowing your horn may alert others but does not assist in regaining control of the car. Therefore, the focus should always be on safely turning off the ignition while managing the vehicle's direction.