What is the first step if you experience unintended acceleration?

When experiencing unintended acceleration, the first step is to shift to neutral. This action effectively disengages the engine from the wheels, allowing the driver to control the vehicle's speed without the power of the engine propelling it forward. By shifting to neutral, you prioritize safety, as it allows you to retain steering control while slowing down the vehicle.

This step is crucial because it prevents the vehicle from further accelerating and provides the driver with the opportunity to bring the vehicle to a stop. Once the car is in neutral, the driver can then apply the brakes gently to safely reduce speed or come to a complete stop.

Other options, while they may be part of the overall response to unintended acceleration, do not address the immediate need to regain control over the vehicle as effectively as shifting to neutral does. For instance, turning off the engine may seem like a logical step, but it can lead to a complete loss of power steering and braking assistance, making it more challenging to control the vehicle. Pumping the brakes hard can also be ineffective if the vehicle is accelerating uncontrollably, and steering vigorously could lead to a loss of control rather than a safe maneuver. Hence, shifting to neutral is indeed the most effective initial action.