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Florida driving lesson · Special Situations and Emergencies

Rear-end risks, breakdowns and emergency braking

A 3-minute lesson from the Florida 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
Special Situations and Emergencies
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
86, 87

Emergencies go better when you already know the steps. This lesson covers staying out of rear-end crashes, what to do when your car breaks down, emergency braking, fires, a stuck gas pedal and overcorrecting.

To avoid being hit from behind:

  • Keep brake lights clean and working
  • Use your rear-view and side mirrors to know what's around you
  • Signal well ahead for turns, stops and lane changes
  • Avoid sudden stops; slow down gradually
  • Drive with the flow of traffic (within the limit); driving too slowly can be dangerous
Handbook p. 86 ↗

If you break down:

  • 1. Get all four wheels out of traffic lanes as soon as possible, or have the vehicle moved
  • 2. If possible, park where you can be seen for 200 feet in each direction
  • 3. Turn on your hazard lights
  • 4. Get passengers out on the side away from traffic
  • 5. Call *FHP (*347) or law enforcement
Handbook p. 86 ↗

Emergency braking when traction is lost

Emergency braking when traction is lost
BrakesWhat to do
ConventionalPump the brakes
Four-wheel ABSBrake hard, steer, keep constant pressure
Rear-wheel ABS (some light trucks)If fronts lock, ease off until they roll
Handbook p. 86 ↗

Know the rule

With ABS, taking steady pressure off the pedal or pumping the brakes turns the ABS off.

Handbook p. 86 ↗

Vehicle fire:

  • 1. Get out of the vehicle
  • 2. Call 911
  • 3. Try to put it out only if the fire is small and you have a portable extinguisher
  • NEVER apply water to a gasoline or diesel fire
  • 4. If you can't put it out, get away from the vehicle; fumes are toxic and it may explode
Handbook p. 87 ↗

Jammed gas pedal:

  • 1. Take your foot off the gas pedal
  • 2. Press the clutch (manual) or shift into neutral (automatic)
  • 3. If needed, press (don't slam) the brakes
  • 4. Carefully steer to a safe place to stop
Handbook p. 87 ↗

Know the rule

Don't shut off the engine unless steps 1 and 2 fail to slow the car. With the engine off, you lose the ability to steer.

Handbook p. 87 ↗

Overcorrection

Excessive steering in reaction to an event or loss of control. It can cause a rollover or send you into oncoming traffic.

Handbook p. 87 ↗

If you start to leave the road unintentionally:

  • Stay calm and hold the wheel firmly
  • Take your foot off the gas; don't slam the brakes
  • Steer where you want to go; if needed, steer to a safe place and stop
Handbook p. 87 ↗

Put it into practice

Your accelerator sticks on the highway. Lift your foot, shift into neutral, brake gently, and steer to the shoulder. Keep the engine running so you can still steer.

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.

Removing steady pressure from the brake pedal or pumping the brakes will disengage the ABS system.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Removing steady pressure from the brake pedal or pumping the brakes will disengage or turn off the ABS.

Handbook p. 86 ↗
If your vehicle breaks down, where should you park it if possible?
  1. Where it can be seen for 100 feet each way
  2. Where it can be seen for 200 feet each way
  3. Where it can be seen for 500 feet each way
  4. In the left lane with hazard lights on

Answer: Where it can be seen for 200 feet each way

Move the disabled vehicle out of traffic lanes and, if possible, park where it can be seen for 200 feet in each direction.

Handbook p. 86 ↗
Your light truck has rear-wheel ABS and the front wheels lock during hard braking. What should you do?
  1. Pump the brakes as fast as you can
  2. Press harder and hold the pedal down
  3. Shift into neutral and steer
  4. Ease up on the brake so the front wheels roll

Answer: Ease up on the brake so the front wheels roll

With rear-wheel ABS the front wheels can still lock; let up on the brake just enough for the front wheels to roll again and regain control.

Handbook p. 86 ↗
Which of these lowers the risk of another vehicle hitting you from behind?
  1. Signaling well in advance for turns and stops
  2. Braking suddenly to warn tailgaters
  3. Driving well below the flow of traffic
  4. Tapping your brakes at every intersection

Answer: Signaling well in advance for turns and stops

To lower rear-end risk, keep brake lights clean, use your mirrors, signal well in advance, avoid sudden stops, and drive with the flow of traffic.

Handbook p. 86 ↗
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