Roadwise States Maine Driving lessons Skids, drop-offs, brake and tire failures Maine driving lesson · Emergencies and Vehicle Problems
Skids, drop-offs, brake and tire failures A 4-minute lesson from the Maine course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 4 minutes
Course unit Emergencies and Vehicle Problems
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 97, 98, 99 Even a well-kept car can fail. In a skid, a blowout or a brake failure, the right first move is usually the opposite of your instinct: ease off, grip firmly and steer.
Know the rule
Skids happen when you go too fast or brake too hard, whenever your tires can't grip the road. While the tires are skidding you can't steer.
Handbook p. 97 ↗ If your vehicle begins to skid: Release the pressure on the brake or accelerator to regain steering Look where you want to go Handbook p. 97 ↗ If your right wheels drop off onto the shoulder: Don't panic; grip the steering wheel firmly Ease up on the gas pedal Don't slam on the brakes; brake gently After slowing, check traffic ahead and behind, then steer back onto the road Handbook p. 97 ↗ Know the rule
You can avoid most breakdowns by following the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual.
Handbook p. 98 ↗ Know the rule
A brake warning light tells you your brakes are not working. Don't drive if you see it.
Handbook p. 98 ↗ If your brakes fail while driving: Pump the brake pedal rapidly and hard several times If that fails, apply the parking brake slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels; release it if you skid Shift to a lower gear and look for a place to slow to a stop Use your horn and lights to warn other drivers If the parking brake fails, turn off the engine and find a safe place to stop well off the road Once stopped, call for help; don't drive without brakes Handbook p. 98 ↗ Wet brakes: Always test your brakes after driving through deep water; they may pull to one side or not work Dry them by driving slowly and applying the brakes lightly for a short distance Handbook p. 98 ↗ When a tire blows or goes flat: Don't panic or slam on the brakes Grip the wheel firmly and steer straight Take your foot off the gas and let the vehicle slow down by itself; brake gently only if you must Don't stop on the road; pull off in a safe place and turn on the emergency flashers Handbook p. 98 ↗ If the gas pedal sticks: Keep your eyes on the road Shift to neutral Steer smoothly and gently put on the brakes Find a safe place to pull off; turn off the engine as you stop If you can't free the pedal, call for help; don't drive the car Handbook p. 99 ↗ Put it into practice
At 55 mph your front left tire blows and the car yanks left. Don't brake hard. Hold the wheel firmly, steer straight, lift off the gas and let the car slow on its own, then pull off the road and turn on your flashers.
A useful reminder Blowout or drop-off: grip, ease off the gas, no hard braking.
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 should you do first if your brakes suddenly stop working? Pump the brake pedal rapidly and hard Turn off the engine right away Pull the parking brake hard at once Shift into neutral and coast Answer: Pump the brake pedal rapidly and hard
If your brakes fail, first pump the brake pedal rapidly and hard several times.
Handbook p. 98 ↗ If pumping the brakes doesn't work, what should you try next? Use the parking brake slowly Turn the steering wheel sharply Turn off the engine Shift into neutral Answer: Use the parking brake slowly
If pumping the brakes fails, use the parking brake, applying it slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels.
Handbook p. 98 ↗ If a front tire blows out, which way will the vehicle tend to pull? Away from the blown tire Straight, with no pull Toward the blown tire It depends on your speed Answer: Toward the blown tire
If a front tire blows out, your vehicle will pull hard toward the blown tire.
Handbook p. 98 ↗ What should you do with the gas pedal immediately after a tire blowout? Ease off it and slow gradually Shift into neutral right away Press it to keep momentum Pump it rapidly several times Answer: Ease off it and slow gradually
Take your foot off the gas pedal and allow the vehicle to slow down gradually by itself.
Handbook p. 98 ↗ If your brakes get wet after driving through deep water, you can dry them by driving slowly and applying light brake pressure. True False Answer: True
You can 'dry' wet brakes by driving slowly and putting light pressure on the brakes for a short distance.
Handbook p. 98 ↗ What should you do if your gas pedal becomes stuck while driving? Shift to neutral and steer smoothly to a stop Press the pedal harder to break it free Shift into park right away Turn off the ignition at speed Answer: Shift to neutral and steer smoothly to a stop
Shift to neutral, steer smoothly, gently apply the brakes, and find a safe place to stop.
Handbook p. 99 ↗ Previous lesson After a crash: reporting and first aid Next lesson Breakdowns and other emergencies More in Emergencies and Vehicle Problems About the source Roadwise’s Maine course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 97, 98, 99. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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