Vilnius resident in distress caught by police actions – will remember that day for a long time

The reaction of the officials was pleasantly surprised

While driving an off-road vehicle from Druskininkai to Vilnius, P. Šidlauskas could not see the remaining fuel due to technical problems. 15 kilometers from the Vilnius border, fuel ran out and the journey had to be unexpectedly interrupted. Although in such a case, a frequent driver would rush to call his friends first, the Vilnius resident was unable to do so; unfortunately his phone’s battery was dead.

“The fuel tank level gauge was broken, so I didn’t know how much fuel was actually left. When I had to stop, the phone went dead and there were two Eastern European shepherds in the car that I didn’t want to leave. So, I only have two options left: stop passing drivers and hope they can help, or go with the dogs to ask the locals for help, ”he recalls.

After about 15 minutes, the officers’ car stopped near Vilnius. His subsequent actions turned out to be pleasantly unexpected for the Vilnius resident.

“I was pleasantly surprised: the officers stopped and asked what they could do to help. Not only did they take me to the nearest gas station and bring them back, but they also helped fill the car with fuel, they waited until I started driving, they wanted to make sure everything was okay. This diligence greatly raised the spirits and changed the attitude towards the work of the civil servants ”, shared Fr Šidlauskas.

What to do on the road after running out of fuel: there are several solutions

Driving instructor Artūras Pakėnas cautions that fuel-run-out situations on the road related to car breakdowns are more typical of older car drivers.

“The fuel can escape by piercing the tank, piercing the pipe. There are serious breakdowns here, but they don’t happen often, unless you’re fishing, mushrooming, or hunting somewhere in the forest, climbing up a stump or rock. It is also possible that the fuel balance is not displayed accurately on the panel, but such bajerai usually only with older cars, ”says A. Pakėnas.

According to him, in the past, drivers were more likely to encounter situations where the road ran out of fuel, so drivers were prepared for it.

“In the past, when fuel gauges didn’t always accurately show remaining fuel, the most cautious drivers would carry a spare fuel container in the trunk of a car. When there was such a problem on the road, it was quite possible to stop drivers and ask them if they had no gas; the question did not confuse anyone, because it was natural, “says the driving instructor.

Today, however, a canister with fuel supplies can be found on a rare driver. So when you find yourself in a situation where you suddenly run out of fuel on the road, you have to look for other solutions.

“There are several ways to run out of fuel on the road. The first is to ask other car drivers to take your car to the nearest service station. However, this can only be done if you have a rope with you or if a person stops it. The second solution is to call your friends if you are close enough to them. Otherwise, it is possible to call technical assistance, which provides a fuel delivery service, “says A. Pakėnas.

However, the Vilnius resident’s experience described above shows that in some situations drivers are no longer able to use their phone. In such cases, it would be necessary to request permission to make a call from a suspended driver’s phone.

“You can expect the suspended person to allow the use of the phone. The truth is, none of us are protected from that. Along the way, such a surprise can happen to any of us. It is possible that the driver has been detained and cannot help us himself, but at least he will be able to share the phone so that you can contact technical support ”, says A. Pakėnas.

Driving on remaining fuel – dangerous

According to Giedrius Petrikas, Head of the Lietuvos Draudimas Transport Claims Department, running out of fuel on the road is one of the reasons why customers who have insured their car with compulsory motor civil liability insurance turn to the assistance service technique.

He mentions that help is usually called when the battery is discharged, the tire is punctured, the car is unlocked if necessary, it stalls and the fuel runs out, and along with the mandatory insurance, customers are entitled to free roadside assistance.

“The technical assistance service supplies up to 10 liters of gasoline or diesel free of charge; the customer only has to pay the invoice for the fuel delivered. The technical assistance service undertakes to reach the city within 60 minutes at the latest, in In the event of an accident on roads and highways, on paved roads of national and regional importance, 90 minutes, on other roads, in 180 minutes ”, explains G. Petrikas.

However, the specialist warns that stopping the engine when the engine stops can disrupt the operation of the power steering and brake booster, and in such conditions it becomes difficult even for an experienced driver to control the car – a very dangerous situation on the road. .

“If you allow the fuel to run out completely, you can incur significant repair costs. In the absence of fuel, the injection system may malfunction and the fuel mixture may not ignite. When unburned fuel enters the exhaust system, soot filters, catalytic converters, and other parts of the fuel system can be damaged; these auto parts are expensive. Today’s gasoline and diesel car fuel supply systems have high pressures, so air entering the system can cause significant damage. After an “empty tank” trip, fuel system failures can occur immediately or only after a while. Thus, the habit of driving with the last remaining fuel can significantly shorten the “service life” of the fuel supply system, “explains G. Petrikas.