62 | Driver’s Manual deer crossing signs. The New York State Depart- ment of Environmental Conservation recommends  these precautions motorists can take to reduce  the chance of a deer hit: The most important rule in any emergency is  do not panic. You have a better chance in an  emergency if you do not let fear take over. In most  emergencies, you will have a second or two to  think before you act. Here is what to do in different emergency  situations: TIRE BLOWOUT -  A thumping sound can be a  warning that a blowout is about to occur. If you  hear it, get safely off the road and check your  tires. If a tire blows out, hold the steering wheel  tight and slowly take your foot off the gas pedal. If  your vehicle skids, handle it as you would on ice  or snow. Do not use your brake until your vehicle  is controlled. Leave the road when it is safe to do so. LOSS OF A WHEEL -  Handle this as you would  a blowout. A thump or noise in the wheel can be  a warning sound. Leave the roadway and stop.  Then check your vehicle or have it checked. STEERING FAILURE -  If your vehicle suddenly will  not respond when you steer, slowly take your foot  off the gas pedal, turn on your emergency lights  and keep your foot off the brake pedal while it is  safe to do so. The balance of the vehicle will allow  it to continue going straight, but a sudden change  in speed could send it out of control. As the vehi- cle decreases speed, you can brake very carefully  to bring it to a stop. BRAKE FAILURE -  If your brake pedal suddenly  goes to the floor, try pumping it to increase pres- sure. If that does not help, use your emergency or  parking brake – but use it gently. If you shift to a  lower gear, it will help your vehicle decrease speed. HEADLIGHT FAILURE -  If your headlights sud- denly go out, try your emergency lights, parking  lights and directional signals. These may continue  to work and can give you enough light to leave  the roadway safely. If your headlights begin to  dim, drive to a service station or pull off the road  and go for help. STUCK GAS PEDAL -  Hook your shoe under the  pedal and see if you can free it. If not, shift into  neutral and use the brake to slow your vehicle  and get off the road. Do not turn off the ignition  if your vehicle has power steering or a steering  wheel that has a column that locks, because if  you do, you will lose your power steering or not  have the ability to steer at all. RUNNING OFF THE PAVEMENT -  If your wheels  move off the pavement, do not pull the steering  wheel back. Ease your foot off the gas pedal and  brake gently. When your vehicle has decreased  speed, check for traffic behind you, then turn  carefully back onto the pavement. VEHICLE APPROACHING HEAD-ON IN YOUR  LANE –  Decrease speed, pull over to the right  and sound your horn to warn the other driver.  Do not turn into the left lane. If you do, the other  driver may suddenly recover and pull back into  that lane, causing a head-on collision.  DRIVING EMERGENCIES • Be careful when you drive at dawn and  dusk; this is when driver visibility is bad and  the deer are most active. • The risk of deer-vehicle collisions increases  when deer movements increase during  breeding season in October, November and December. • Decrease speed when you approach deer  near roadsides. Deer can “bolt” or change  direction at the last minute. • If you see a deer go across the road, de- crease speed and be careful. Deer travel in  groups, expect other deer to follow. • Use emergency lights or flash your head- lights to warn other drivers when deer are  seen on or near the road. • Use caution on roadways marked with deer  crossing signs. These signs are put in areas  that have had a large number of deer-  vehicle collisions.