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Connecticut driving lesson · Signals, Emergencies & Crashes

Breakdowns and equipment failures

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

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Signals, Emergencies & Crashes
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
41, 42

Sooner or later every driver faces a breakdown or equipment failure. Knowing the steps ahead of time — for brakes, tires, engine, lights or a stuck gas pedal — keeps a problem from becoming a crash. Regular maintenance prevents most of them.

If your vehicle breaks down:

  • Get it off the road and away from traffic if at all possible
  • Turn on your emergency flashers
  • If you can't get off the road, stop where others can see you — not just over a hill or around a curve
  • Place emergency flares behind the vehicle
  • No flares? Stand safely off the road and wave traffic around, with a white cloth if you have one
  • Never stand in the roadway; don't change a tire if it puts you in a traffic lane
  • Lift the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna, side mirror or door handle
Handbook p. 41 ↗

Brake failure:

  • Pump the brake pedal several times to build up pressure
  • If that fails, pull the parking brake slowly so the rear wheels don't lock; release it if you start to skid
  • If that fails, shift to lower gears, find a safe place to stop off the road; don't drive without brakes
Handbook p. 41 ↗

Tire blowout:

  • Hold the wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight
  • Slow down 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. 41 ↗

Power (engine) failure:

  • Keep a strong grip on the wheel — steering may be hard, but it's possible
  • Pull off the road; the brakes still work but you may have to push very hard
Handbook p. 42 ↗

Headlight failure:

  • Slow down gradually and pull off the road as soon as possible
  • Try the headlight switch a few times
  • If that fails, use emergency flashers, turn signals or fog lights
  • Do not operate your vehicle
Handbook p. 42 ↗

Gas pedal sticks:

  • Keep your eyes on the road
  • Quickly shift to neutral
  • Pull off the road when safe
  • Turn off the engine
Handbook p. 42 ↗

Know the rule

Never turn the ignition to the 'lock' position while the vehicle is moving, or the steering will lock and you'll lose control.

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Put it into practice

Your brake pedal suddenly sinks. Pump it several times. If that doesn't work, slowly pull the parking brake, ready to release it if you skid. Still not stopping? Shift into lower gears and steer to a safe place off the road.

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.

What is the first thing you should try if your brakes suddenly stop working?
  1. Shift into reverse
  2. Turn off the engine immediately
  3. Pull the parking brake hard
  4. Pump the brake pedal

Answer: Pump the brake pedal

Pump the brake pedal several times; this can often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
If pumping the brakes doesn't work, what should you try next?
  1. Shift into reverse
  2. Ease on the parking brake
  3. Swerve onto the shoulder at speed
  4. Turn the ignition to lock

Answer: Ease on the parking brake

If pumping the brake pedal doesn't work, use the parking brake, pulling it slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
If your vehicle's engine dies while driving, what should you do?
  1. Shift the transmission into park while moving
  2. Immediately turn off the ignition switch to 'lock'
  3. Grip the wheel firmly and pull off the road
  4. Continue steering with a light touch only

Answer: Grip the wheel firmly and pull off the road

Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel, since it may be difficult to turn, and pull off the roadway; brakes will still work but need more force.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
How should you generally respond if your gas pedal sticks and the engine keeps accelerating?
  1. Pump the brake pedal repeatedly
  2. Shift to neutral and pull off the road when safe
  3. Push the gas pedal further to overcome the stick
  4. Turn the ignition to lock right away

Answer: Shift to neutral and pull off the road when safe

Quickly shift to neutral, pull off the road when it's safe, and turn off the engine.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
What should you do first if a tire suddenly goes flat while driving?
  1. Brake hard right away
  2. Accelerate to keep control
  3. Hold the wheel tightly; keep it straight
  4. Steer sharply onto the shoulder

Answer: Hold the wheel tightly; keep it straight

If a tire suddenly goes flat, hold the wheel tightly, keep the vehicle straight, and slow down gradually.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
What should you do if your vehicle's headlights suddenly fail while driving at night?
  1. Switch to high beams to compensate
  2. Keep going at normal speed
  3. Stop at once in your lane
  4. Slow down gradually and pull off the road

Answer: Slow down gradually and pull off the road

If your headlights suddenly go out, slow down gradually and pull off the road as soon as possible.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
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