In your everyday driving, are you ready for emergencies and unusual situations?  

> Do you know what you would do if your vehicle caught fire?  
> Do you know what you would do if your brakes failed on a downgrade?  
> Do you know what you would do if your vehicle went off a bridge and into the water?
> Do you know what you would do if you were hijacked?

It would be great if you could practice your response to emergencies before they happen.   But there are many cases where this is impossible.   The alternative is to have a course of action clear in your mind -- and rehearsed, mentally, over and over.   That way, when the worse happens, you're prepared to act in a way that will greatly improve your chances of survival.

Panic sets in when you get into a situation that threatens your survival and you don't know how to handle it.   Probably no one ever lived who never felt fear.   Even our greatest heroes in some of their most desperate predicaments confessed to fear.   But they didn't let their fear turn into panic.

The important thing is that you can be afraid and still handle the situation.   If you're inexperienced and untrained, this fear can turn into panic, and the way you react may be exactly the wrong way.