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Missouri driving lesson · Special Driving Conditions

Brake failure, blowouts and other breakdowns

A 3-minute lesson from the Missouri 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 Driving Conditions
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
66, 67

The most important rule in any emergency is don't panic. If you stay calm, you'll remember what to do. With power steering or a locking steering wheel, never turn off the ignition until you've come to a full stop.

Brake failure (pedal suddenly sinks to the floor):

  • Pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times
  • If that doesn't work, use the emergency or parking brake, gradually
  • Shift to a low gear and look for a place to slow to a stop
  • Make sure the vehicle is off the road
  • Once stopped, call for help; don't try to drive to a garage
Handbook p. 66 ↗

Tire blowout (a loud bang, then thump, thump, thump):

  • Hold the steering wheel tightly
  • Take your foot off the accelerator, but don't hit the brakes
  • Let the vehicle slow to a stop completely off the road
  • Apply the brakes only when the vehicle is almost stopped
  • Turn on your emergency flashers; change the tire only if you can do it safely
Handbook p. 67 ↗

Running off the pavement (wheels may pull right):

  • Hold the steering wheel tightly
  • Take your foot off the accelerator; don't hit the brakes (gentle pressure only if needed)
  • Once slowed and under control, turn back onto the pavement if the lane is clear
Handbook p. 67 ↗

Steering failure (vehicle doesn't turn when you turn the wheel):

  • Take your foot off the accelerator
  • Let the vehicle slow by itself; brake only when almost stopped, or if you must
  • Turn on your emergency flashers
Handbook p. 67 ↗

Headlight failure:

  • Try the dimmer switch or headlight switch
  • If that fails, turn on parking lights, emergency flashers or turn signals
  • Pull off the road, leaving the emergency flashers on
Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

If you have power steering or a locking steering wheel, never turn off the ignition key until you've come to a full stop.

Handbook p. 66 ↗

Put it into practice

Your front tire blows out at highway speed and the wheel jerks. Grip it tightly, lift off the gas without braking, and let the car slow to a stop off the road. Brake gently only when nearly stopped, then turn on your flashers.

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 brake pedal suddenly sinks to the floor, what should you try first?
  1. Turn off the engine immediately
  2. Shift into neutral
  3. Pull the parking brake hard at once
  4. Pump the brakes fast and hard

Answer: Pump the brakes fast and hard

If your brakes fail, first pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times.

Handbook p. 66 ↗
If you have a tire blowout, what should you do with the accelerator and brakes?
  1. Ease off the gas; brake only when almost stopped
  2. Brake hard immediately
  3. Accelerate to maintain control
  4. Apply the parking brake immediately

Answer: Ease off the gas; brake only when almost stopped

During a blowout, take your foot off the accelerator but do not hit the brakes; let the vehicle slow, then apply brakes when almost stopped.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
If your vehicle's steering fails (it doesn't turn when you turn the wheel), what should you do?
  1. Hit the brakes immediately
  2. Turn off the engine right away
  3. Ease off, let it slow itself
  4. Pump the brakes fast and hard

Answer: Ease off, let it slow itself

With steering failure, take your foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle slow by itself; don't brake until it's almost stopped unless necessary.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
If your vehicle's headlights suddenly go out, you should first try the dimmer switch or headlight switch.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Try the dimmer switch or headlight switch first if your headlights go out; if that fails, use parking lights or flashers.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
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