roadwise.Open study app

Arkansas driving lesson · Emergencies & Crashes

Vehicle emergencies

A 3-minute lesson from the Arkansas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Emergencies & Crashes
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
89

Sooner or later every driver faces an emergency. Knowing the steps ahead of time lets you act instead of panic. Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual to prevent many failures.

If your brakes fail:

  • Pump the brake pedal several times; this often builds enough pressure to stop
  • If that fails, apply the parking brake slowly so you don't lock the rear wheels; release if you skid
  • If that fails, shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to slow and stop off the road
  • Don't drive the vehicle without brakes
Handbook p. 89 ↗

If a tire blows out:

  • Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight
  • Slow gradually: take your foot off the gas and brake lightly
  • Don't stop on the road if possible; pull off in a safe place
Handbook p. 89 ↗

If the engine fails:

  • Keep a strong grip; steering may be hard, but you can still turn the wheel
  • Pull off the roadway; the brakes still work but you may have to push very hard
Handbook p. 89 ↗

If the headlights go out:

  • Try the headlight switch a few times
  • If that fails, turn on emergency flashers, turn signals or fog lights if you have them
  • Pull off the road as soon as possible
Handbook p. 89 ↗

If the accelerator sticks (engine keeps speeding up):

  • Keep your eyes on the road
  • Quickly shift to neutral
  • Pull off the road when it's safe
  • Turn off the engine
Handbook p. 89 ↗

Know the rule

With brake failure, pump the pedal first, then use the parking brake, then downshift, in that order.

Handbook p. 89 ↗

Know the rule

After a blowout, don't brake hard; slow gradually while holding the car straight.

Handbook p. 89 ↗

Put it into practice

Your gas pedal sticks as you merge onto the highway. Keep looking ahead, shift into neutral right away, steer onto the shoulder when it's clear, then turn off the engine.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If your brakes fail, what should you try first?
  1. Turn off the engine immediately
  2. Shift into neutral immediately
  3. Pump the brake pedal several times
  4. Steer onto the shoulder without braking

Answer: Pump the brake pedal several times

Pumping the brake pedal several times can build up enough pressure to allow you to stop.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
If pumping the brakes doesn't work, what should you try next?
  1. Turn the steering wheel sharply from side to side
  2. Accelerate to build momentum
  3. Shift into a higher gear
  4. Use the parking brake, applying it slowly

Answer: Use the parking brake, applying it slowly

If pumping fails, slowly apply the parking brake so the rear wheels don't lock and cause a skid.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
During a sudden tire blowout, what should you do with the steering wheel?
  1. Turn the wheel sharply toward the shoulder immediately
  2. Hold it tightly and keep the vehicle going straight
  3. Loosen your grip and let it self-correct
  4. Turn sharply away from the blown tire

Answer: Hold it tightly and keep the vehicle going straight

Holding the wheel tightly and keeping the vehicle straight is the first step after a blowout.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
If your engine suddenly fails while driving, what should you expect about the steering?
  1. Steering will stop working completely
  2. Steering becomes easier than normal
  3. The steering wheel locks in place
  4. It may be harder to turn, but you can still turn it

Answer: It may be harder to turn, but you can still turn it

Engine failure can make steering harder, but a strong grip will still let you turn the wheel.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
If your accelerator sticks and the engine keeps speeding up, what is the recommended first step?
  1. Turn off the engine immediately while moving
  2. Pump the brakes hard immediately
  3. Quickly shift to neutral
  4. Shift into a lower gear

Answer: Quickly shift to neutral

Shifting quickly to neutral stops the engine from driving the wheels before you pull off and turn off the engine.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
If your brakes fail, you should immediately turn off the engine before trying anything else.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

You should first pump the brake pedal several times to try to build up pressure.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Emergencies & Crashes

All Arkansas lessons