Driving comes with many responsibilities and one of them is operating the vehicle safely. Most vehicles today when well-maintained should operate well but there are always potential problems. In a case where the gas pedal gets stuck, what should you do? There are a few simple steps that you can take in order to manage this situation safely and without harm to you or other people on the road. Use these steps to ensure you stay safe through the process.

Shift to Neutral

Regardless of whether you’re driving an automatic or a manual transmission, the car will have a neutral gear. By shifting the car into this gear, you are disengaging the engine. While you will still hear the engine revving, it won’t continue to speed up. Do this as soon as you notice the gas pedal getting stuck. Depending on where you are driving, the car may continue to remain in motion which is why you’ll also need to take additional preventative action.

Apply the Brakes

Even with your car in neutral, it may still be moving. This is a good time to apply the brakes. Don’t panic but apply pressure to the brakes gently and then as the car slows down, try to move it onto the shoulder so that you can stop off of the roadside. The brakes should start to slow the car down just like they would under normal conditions. If you’re close to an accident, you may have to stop more quickly but avoid slamming on the brakes if possible.

Look for an Exit

Although your first priority needs to be disengaging the gas pedal, you should then keep your eyes on the road and look for a way out. As the car slows down, you want to get out of the road where another vehicle could strike your own. Turn on the hazard lights and try to steer for an exit or simply the side of the road. With your hazard lights on, you can alert other drivers that you’re not in a normal braking situation. Drive the car safely off the road.

Turn off the Ignition

Once you’ve gotten the vehicle to a safe place such as the side of the road or off of an exit, the best next step is to turn off the ignition. This will turn the vehicle off completely so you won’t be able to move the car after you’ve done this. After the car is completely turned off, you’ll want to leave it in place and then call a mechanic or repair center for assistance. If the car is completely turned off, you can also try to pump the gas pedal and try to get it unstuck. Even if you’ve done this though, the car may not be safe to drive. You should wait until it’s been evaluated by a mechanic before using the vehicle again.

These are the steps to take after running into a stuck gas pedal. Once you have an idea of what to do, you’ll be prepared if this ever happens to you.