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Idaho driving lesson · Crashes & Emergencies

Breakdowns, blowouts, and avoiding crashes

A 3-minute lesson from the Idaho 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
Crashes & Emergencies
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
117, 118, 119, 120

Many crashes happen because a driver didn't see a stalled vehicle, or reacted to trouble the wrong way. When something goes wrong, your first job is to stay in control and make sure other drivers can see you.

If your car stalls or breaks down:

  • If possible, pull all the way off the road
  • Turn on emergency flashers
  • Lift the hood to show you have a problem
  • Can't get off the road? Stop where drivers behind can see you, not just over a hill or around a curve
  • No flares? Stand by the road and wave traffic around (use a white cloth if you have one); stay off the road
Handbook p. 117 ↗
200 to 300 feet

How far behind your car to place emergency flares

Handbook p. 117 ↗

Avoiding a crash: change direction or change speed

Avoiding a crash: change direction or change speed
MoveHow
SteerCan't stop in time? Turn away, staying off the brakes
BrakeDon't slam (unless ABS); pump hard and fast for control
AccelerateAbout to be hit from side or rear: may soften or prevent it
Handbook p. 118 ↗

If a crash can't be avoided:

  • Best protection: buckle your seat belt properly BEFORE the trip
  • Hit from the rear: press the back of your head against the headrest; be ready to brake
  • Hit from the side: be ready to steer to recover
  • Hit from the front, belted: use your arms and hands to protect your face
Handbook p. 118 ↗

Oncoming car in your lane (with some time):

  • Slow down and warn the driver by flashing your lights and honking
  • Pull to the right as far as possible; don't go left, where they may recover and hit you broadside
  • If a crash is unavoidable, steer so you hit at an angle, not head-on
Handbook p. 119 ↗

Tire blowout:

  • Don't stomp on the brakes
  • Hold the wheel tightly and keep the car headed straight
  • Ease off the gas, but don't brake until you have complete control
  • Then brake gently and pull off at the nearest safe place
Handbook p. 120 ↗

If your wheels drop off the pavement:

  • Grip the wheel and steer straight; stay on the shoulder if nothing is in the way
  • Take your foot off the gas and brake gently
  • Once slowed, check traffic and steer back on when safe; don't oversteer across the center line
Handbook p. 120 ↗

Put it into practice

Your front tire blows out at highway speed and the car pulls hard to one side. Grip the wheel, keep it pointed straight, and ease off the gas. Only once you're under control do you brake gently and pull onto the shoulder.

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.

During a tire blowout, you should avoid the natural instinct to:
  1. shift into neutral immediately
  2. steer sharply away from traffic
  3. stomp on the brakes
  4. hold the wheel and ease off the gas

Answer: stomp on the brakes

Slamming the brakes during a blowout can cause you to lose control.

Handbook p. 120 ↗
If your wheels drop off the pavement, you should:
  1. accelerate to regain the roadway quickly
  2. jerk the wheel back onto the pavement immediately
  3. brake hard before doing anything else
  4. grip the wheel and steer straight

Answer: grip the wheel and steer straight

Steer straight and slow gradually before returning to the pavement.

Handbook p. 120 ↗
If threatened with a head-on crash and you have time, you should:
  1. pull right as far as possible, not left
  2. stop immediately in your lane
  3. swerve left then right to signal danger
  4. pull left to use the oncoming lane

Answer: pull right as far as possible, not left

Pulling right avoids a broadside hit if the other driver corrects left.

Handbook p. 119 ↗
If your car stalls and you can't get off the road, you should:
  1. leave the vehicle immediately
  2. stop where drivers behind have a clear view of you
  3. keep trying to restart in the traffic lane
  4. stop just past a hill or curve out of sight

Answer: stop where drivers behind have a clear view of you

Stopping where you're visible from behind helps prevent a rear collision.

Handbook p. 117 ↗
If you have emergency flares, you should place them how far behind your car?
  1. 10 to 20 feet
  2. 500 to 600 feet
  3. 200 to 300 feet
  4. 50 to 100 feet

Answer: 200 to 300 feet

Flares should be placed 200 to 300 feet behind a disabled vehicle.

Handbook p. 117 ↗
When a vehicle stalls on the highway, drivers should first try to:
  1. stop immediately in the travel lane
  2. pull all the way off the road
  3. call for help before moving at all
  4. wait for traffic to clear before moving

Answer: pull all the way off the road

Getting fully off the road is the first priority when a vehicle stalls.

Handbook p. 117 ↗
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