Content

• Steps
• Tips

Dirt roads, after long rains, turn into mud swamps. It is very easy to get stuck on such roads. If a dirt road passes through hilly terrain or there is heavy traffic on it, rain will greatly worsen the accident rate of this road. In order not to get stuck in the mud or turn the car over, certain skills will come in handy.

Steps

1. 1 Don't go too fast! You are much less likely to get off the road if you drive slowly. Use a low gear for better traction control.
2. 2 Avoid harsh pressing on the gas pedal! If the wheels lose traction when driving downhill - release the gas pedal, if when driving uphill - keep the pedal in the same position. If you spin the wheels with a hard press on the gas, you will be stuck in an instant, and further pressing on the gas will only make the situation worse.
3. 3 If you have a rear wheel drive vehicle (not 4WD, AWD, or FWD), load the rear axle by placing something heavy in the trunk or in the back if you have a pickup truck. Rocks, gravel and wood are especially good, as they will help you out if you get stuck.
4. 4 Drive the car so that the wheels do not get caught in a rut. There is more moisture in the rut, therefore, the mud is more slippery.
5. 5 Do not use smooth braking. If you are driving downhill, brake with the engine!
6. 6 Avoid harshly pressing the brake pedal. Brake with gentle intermittent pressing. Impulse braking will have the same effect as ABS on slippery roads.
7. 7 If you skid, turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction to the skid and brake with impulses. If you are unable to stop and are out of the way, try to steer as far away from the edge of the road as possible. Sharp turns of the steering wheel can turn the car over!
8. 8 If you get stuck, stay calm and get out of the car.
   1. Explore the area and find a way to get out of there.
   2. Collect rocks, branches and throw them under the drive wheels of your car to improve traction, do not make too much of a hill in front of the wheel.
   3. Get into the car and try to drive slowly, keeping the steering wheel straight. If the wheels start to slip, back up a bit, then forward again. By rocking the vehicle in this manner, you can hook the drive wheels onto a secure surface.
   4. You may need a lot more stones and branches than meets the eye.
   5. Reducing tire pressure will help improve road contact. Tire pressure varies with vehicle weight, tire model, etc. It is not worth reducing the pressure if you have to drive on an asphalt road and you will not be able to inflate the wheels back. Too low pressure will negatively affect handling and increase the risk of tire and rim damage. Do not drop the pressure below 20psi or half of the recommended pressure.
9. 9 Always have a mobile phone with you so that you can call for help. If you do not have a phone or the area where you are driving is not covered by mobile networks, have an adequate supply of drinking water and a sleeping bag with you to wait for help.

Tips

• If you find yourself doing a lot of mud riding, ask your tire store dealer to help you choose the right model.
• If you want to improve traction, lowering your tires a little, this will increase the contact patch and increase traction. But when driving back onto the road, pump up the pressure to the recommended pressure.

• If you often have to drive through mud, when choosing a car, give preference to all-wheel drive models.
• Drive smoothly or you risk getting stuck.