State Farm offers advice on how to spot warning signs of vehicle fire risk, and the National Safety Council provides tips on what to do if a fire starts while you're driving.
by Staff
October 9, 2017
A tow truck operator prepares to tow away a fire-damaged car from a California freeway. Automotive Fleet photo.
1 min to read
A tow truck operator prepares to tow away a fire-damaged car from a California freeway. Automotive Fleet photo.
In 2015, firefighters responded to 174,000 car fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Since Oct. 8-14 is National Fire Prevention Week this year, now is a good time to review the warning signs of potential fire risk in vehicles.
State Farm recommends that drivers look for these red flags:
Ad Loading...
Fuses that blow repeatedly
Spilled oil under the hood left over from an oil change
Oil or other fluid leaks under the vehicle
Cracked or loose wiring, or wiring with exposed metal
Very loud sounds from the exhaust system
Rapid changes in fuel level, oil levels or engine temperature
A missing cap from the oil filter
Broken or loose hoses.
The National Safety Council recommends these measures if you smell smoke or see flames coming from your vehicle while you’re driving:
Signal and immediately move to the closest safe place to stop, whether that’s a side lane or a median.
Stop the vehicle and turn off the ignition.
Get every person out of the vehicle, and don’t allow anyone to go back to retrieve personal items.
Move far from the burning vehicle to avoid the flames and toxic fumes — at least 100 feet — and also keep bystanders back.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.