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Delaware driving lesson · Emergencies & Crashes

Vehicle emergencies

A 4-minute lesson from the Delaware 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
4 minutes
Course unit
Emergencies & Crashes
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
134, 135, 136

Following your owner's manual maintenance schedule greatly reduces breakdowns, but you still need a plan for failures. The right first move—pump the brakes, shift to neutral, hold the wheel—often decides whether you stay in control.

Know the rule

Never turn the ignition to 'lock' while the vehicle is moving—the steering will lock when you turn the wheel and you'll lose control.

Handbook p. 134 ↗

If your brakes fail, in order:

  • Pump the brake pedal several times to build up pressure
  • Use the parking brake—pull slowly so the rear wheels don't lock; release it if you start to skid
  • Shift to lower gears and look for a safe place off the road to slow to a stop
Handbook p. 134 ↗

Know the rule

After driving through deep water, test your brakes—they may pull to one side or not hold. To dry them, drive slowly in low gear and tap the brakes lightly, testing every 200 feet until they work normally.

Handbook p. 134 ↗

If you run off the pavement:

  • Don't panic, and don't jam on the brakes—brake carefully or not at all
  • Take your foot off the accelerator and grip the wheel tightly
  • Return only when under control, at 15 mph or less, after checking traffic behind you
  • Then turn the front wheels sharply toward the pavement—don't cross the center line
Handbook p. 134 ↗
15 mph

Speed you should be at or below before steering back onto the pavement

Handbook p. 134 ↗

Tire blowout:

  • Hold the steering 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 at all possible; pull off in a safe place
Handbook p. 135 ↗

Know the rule

If the engine dies: keep a strong grip—the wheel is harder to turn, but it turns. Pull off the road; the brakes still work, but you may have to push very hard.

Handbook p. 135 ↗

Know the rule

If your headlights go out: try the switch a few times; if that fails, turn on emergency flashers, turn signals or fog lights and pull off as soon as possible.

Handbook p. 135 ↗

If the 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. 135 ↗

Know the rule

Fire: if smoke comes from under the hood, get off the road. Without a chemical extinguisher, smother it with dirt or sand—never water, because burning gas floats and spreads. If it's out of control, move at least 100 feet away.

Handbook p. 136 ↗

Know the rule

Stalled on railroad tracks: look both ways; if no train is coming, try to restart. If a train is coming or you're unsure, get out and move away—running toward the direction the train is coming from, so debris won't hit you.

Handbook p. 136 ↗

Put it into practice

Your accelerator sticks on the highway. Keep your eyes ahead, shift into neutral right away, steer onto the shoulder when it's safe, and only 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 suddenly stop working, the first thing you should try is to
  1. pull the parking brake hard
  2. turn off the engine right away
  3. shift into a lower gear
  4. pump the brake pedal several times

Answer: pump the brake pedal several times

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

Handbook p. 134 ↗
If pumping the brakes does not work, your next step for brake failure is to
  1. use the parking brake slowly
  2. coast until the vehicle stops on its own
  3. shift into neutral and coast
  4. shift to a lower gear right away

Answer: use the parking brake slowly

If pumping fails, pull the parking brake slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels and causing a skid.

Handbook p. 134 ↗
If your vehicle runs off the pavement, you should return to the roadway only after slowing to about
  1. 5 mph or less
  2. 30 mph or less
  3. 15 mph or less
  4. 45 mph or less

Answer: 15 mph or less

Do not try to return to the pavement until your speed is reduced to 15 mph or less and you have checked for traffic.

Handbook p. 134 ↗
If your vehicle catches fire and the fire gets out of control, you should move away from the vehicle by at least
  1. 25 feet
  2. 50 feet
  3. 200 feet
  4. 100 feet

Answer: 100 feet

If a vehicle fire gets out of control, move at least 100 feet away since the gas tank may explode.

Handbook p. 136 ↗
If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks and a train is approaching, you should
  1. get out and move away, running toward the direction the train is coming from
  2. stay inside with your seatbelt on
  3. try to push the vehicle off the tracks alone
  4. run away from the tracks in the same direction the train is traveling

Answer: get out and move away, running toward the direction the train is coming from

Get out and move away from the tracks, running toward the direction the train is coming from so debris from a collision will not hit you.

Handbook p. 136 ↗
If your accelerator pedal sticks, what should you do immediately?
  1. Turn off the engine
  2. Pump the gas pedal
  3. Shift to neutral
  4. Apply the parking brake hard

Answer: Shift to neutral

If the gas pedal sticks, quickly shift to neutral, then pull off the road and turn off the engine.

Handbook p. 135 ↗
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