Slashgear reported that drivers can use interior floor mats to free cars stuck in mud, snow, or sand if the wheels are not buried too deeply. The issue is a lack of traction on slippery ground rather than engine power, so adding a mat gives tires the grip needed to move forward.
For front-wheel drive vehicles, drivers should place the mat under the front wheel on the driver side. For rear-wheel drive vehicles, the mat belongs under the rear wheel on the passenger side. After pushing the mat as deep as possible under the tire, the driver should accelerate slowly to escape. Nearby items like branches, stones, or leaves can also assist if mats are unavailable.
Wheel placement and common mistakes
Slashgear warned that pressing hard on the gas pedal is the worst mistake a stuck driver can make. Sudden acceleration spins the tires and digs the car deeper into the ground. Drivers must act cautiously instead of applying brute force to overcome the mud.
If another vehicle is needed to pull the car out, drivers with automatic transmissions must switch to neutral gear. Leaving an automatic car in gear prevents wheels from turning freely, making extraction harder and risking severe damage to the gearbox or transmission over time.
Other vehicle reports
UNIAN previously reported that mechanics at the Coasta de Est service center in Romania uncovered a hidden engine problem in a 2018 Honda Civic. Separately, an auto mechanic explained what consumes the most fuel, noting that manufacturer consumption estimates rarely match real driving conditions or domestic fuel quality.
