California driving lesson · Safe Driving Fundamentals
Blowouts, running off the road & stalled on tracks
A 3-minute lesson from the California course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
In an emergency, your instinct is to slam the brakes or jerk the wheel. The handbook's steps do the opposite: stay calm, hold the wheel, and make gradual moves.
If you have a tire blowout (NHTSA steps):
Hold the steering wheel with both hands
Maintain your speed if possible and safe
Gradually release the accelerator
Correct steering as needed to stabilize the vehicle
Look and steer in the direction you want to go
Once stable, keep slowing and pull off the road when safe
If your vehicle stalls on the tracks with a train coming and warning lights flashing, get out immediately and run away from the tracks diagonally, toward the direction the train is coming from. Then call 911.
If no train is in sight and lights aren't flashing, get out, call the number on the crossing post or control box, give the crossing number, say a vehicle is on the tracks, then call 911.
Run diagonally toward the train; the orange area is the crash area
Put it into practice
You're cruising at 60 mph when a front tire blows. Don't slam the brakes or yank your foot off the gas. Grip the wheel with both hands, hold your speed briefly, then gradually ease off the accelerator and steer to the shoulder once the car is stable.
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 you have a tire blowout, what should you avoid doing?
Holding the wheel with both hands
Gradually releasing the accelerator
Braking or releasing the gas abruptly
Steering in the direction you want to go
Answer: Braking or releasing the gas abruptly
Avoid sudden braking or abruptly releasing the accelerator during a blowout, as this can cause loss of control.
