What should you do if your gas pedal sticks while driving?

If you experience a sticking gas pedal while driving, the correct course of action is to shift to neutral and pull over safely. This is critical because maintaining control of the vehicle is paramount when faced with unexpected acceleration. By shifting to neutral, you disengage the engine from the wheels, which stops any further acceleration while still allowing you to steer the vehicle towards a safe area off the road.

It is important to pull over safely to prevent the risk of a collision or losing control of the vehicle. This allows you to safely assess the situation and take necessary steps to address the issue with the gas pedal once you are no longer in motion.

Other responses can present greater risks. Pressing the gas pedal harder could further accelerate the vehicle, exacerbating the problem. Turning off the ignition immediately is dangerous because it can deactivate power steering and brakes, making it much harder to control the vehicle at high speeds. Finally, applying the brakes firmly without disengaging the engine could lead to a loss of control, especially if the vehicle is trying to accelerate despite your attempts to slow down. Therefore, the safest and most effective response is to shift to neutral and pull over.