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Kentucky driving lesson · Emergencies & Crashes

Engine failure, stuck accelerator & breakdowns

A 3-minute lesson from the Kentucky 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
Emergencies & Crashes
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
63

If the engine quits or the accelerator sticks, stay calm and keep steering—you still control where the car goes. If you break down, your top priority is making sure other drivers see your vehicle in time; crashes often happen because a driver sees a disabled car too late to stop.

If the engine shuts off while driving:

  • Keep a strong grip—the wheel may be hard to turn, but you can turn it
  • Look for an escape path
  • Don't brake hard; use steady pressure, slow down and pull off the road
  • Try to restart; if it won't start, raise the hood, turn on flashers and call for help
Handbook p. 63 ↗

If the accelerator sticks:

  • Turn off the engine
  • Shift to neutral and look for an escape path
  • Steer smoothly, brake gently and pull off the road
  • Have the pedal repaired at a service center before driving again
Handbook p. 63 ↗

Breaking down on the highway:

  • Pull completely off the road, to the right side if possible
  • Can't get off? Stop where you can be seen from a distance—never just over a hill or around a curve
  • Turn on emergency flashers and lift the hood to show you need help
  • Place flares about 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle
  • Call authorities by phone; many roads post the number to call in an emergency
Handbook p. 63 ↗
200–300 feet

Where to place emergency flares behind a disabled vehicle

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Know the rule

Placing flares gives other drivers time to change lanes if necessary.

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Put it into practice

Your engine dies on a two-lane highway just past the top of a hill. Hold the wheel firmly (steering will be heavy), brake with steady pressure and coast well clear of the hilltop before pulling off. Then flashers on, hood up, and flares 200 to 300 feet back.

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 the engine shuts off while you are driving, you should:
  1. Brake hard to stop quickly
  2. Shift immediately into park
  3. Keep a strong grip on the wheel since steering will be harder
  4. Pull the emergency brake at full speed

Answer: Keep a strong grip on the wheel since steering will be harder

The steering wheel may be harder to turn with the engine off, so maintain a strong grip and steer carefully.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
If your accelerator becomes stuck, you should:
  1. Pump the accelerator to reset it
  2. Pump the brake pedal rapidly
  3. Shift into park right away
  4. Turn off the engine and shift to neutral

Answer: Turn off the engine and shift to neutral

Turn off the engine, shift to neutral, search for an escape path, and pull off the roadway.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
When a vehicle breaks down on the highway, emergency flares should be placed how far behind the vehicle?
  1. About 200 to 300 feet
  2. About 10 to 20 feet
  3. About 500 feet
  4. About 50 feet

Answer: About 200 to 300 feet

Place emergency flares about 200 to 300 feet behind the disabled vehicle to warn approaching traffic.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
You should stop just over a hill or around a curve if that is where your vehicle happens to break down.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

You should avoid stopping just over a hill or around a curve, since other drivers may not see you in time.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
If the engine shuts off while driving and cannot be restarted after pulling off the roadway, you should:
  1. Restart it repeatedly while still in traffic
  2. Push the vehicle to the nearest exit
  3. Leave the hood closed and wait inside
  4. Raise the hood and turn on emergency flashers

Answer: Raise the hood and turn on emergency flashers

If the engine won't restart, raise the hood and turn on the emergency flashers to signal for help.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
Many Kentucky roadways post signs with a phone number for:
  1. Checking traffic conditions only
  2. Reporting potholes only
  3. Reporting speeding drivers
  4. Reporting a breakdown or emergency

Answer: Reporting a breakdown or emergency

Many roadways have signs indicating the telephone number to call in an emergency, such as a breakdown.

Handbook p. 63 ↗
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