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New Hampshire driving lesson · Driving Emergencies

Brake, tire, and engine failure

A 3-minute lesson from the New Hampshire 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
Driving Emergencies
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
41, 42

Following the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual greatly reduces breakdowns, but failures still happen. Brake failure, blowouts and engine stalls each have a specific response. Stay calm and keep control of the steering.

Know the rule

Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner's manual to greatly reduce the chance of a vehicle problem.

Handbook p. 41 ↗

Know the rule

Brakes can fail from a malfunction or after contact with a large amount of water.

Handbook p. 41 ↗

If your brakes fail:

  • Engage the parking brake slowly (hand lever or foot pedal) to avoid locking the rear wheels
  • Be ready to release it if the vehicle starts to skid
  • If that doesn't work, turn off the engine and find a safe place to slow to a stop off the road
Handbook p. 42 ↗

Tire blowout

Tire blowout
TireWhat the vehicle does
Front tirePulls sharply toward the blowout side
Rear tireWobbles, shakes, pulls some toward the blowout
Handbook p. 42 ↗

Tire blowout

The rapid deflation of a tire, which can cause sudden loss of control.

Handbook p. 42 ↗

If a tire blows out or suddenly goes flat:

  • Grip the wheel firmly and keep the vehicle going straight
  • Slow gradually by easing off the accelerator
  • Let the vehicle slow by itself, or brake gently if needed
  • If possible, pull off in a safe place and turn on the emergency flashers
Handbook p. 42 ↗

If the engine shuts off while moving:

  • Keep a strong grip; the steering wheel may be hard to turn
  • Don't brake hard: use steady pressure, slow down, and pull off the road
  • Stop and try to restart; if it won't, raise the hood, turn on flashers and call for help
Handbook p. 42 ↗

Put it into practice

Your right front tire blows at 50 mph and the car jerks right. Hold the wheel firmly and keep it straight, ease off the gas, and let the car slow. Don't slam the brakes. Then pull off and 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 a vehicle's brakes fail, what should a driver do first?
  1. Pump the gas pedal
  2. Turn off the engine immediately
  3. Shift into neutral immediately
  4. Engage the parking brake slowly

Answer: Engage the parking brake slowly

Drivers should engage the parking brake slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
If a front tire blows out, how does the vehicle typically react?
  1. It drifts gently opposite the blowout
  2. It accelerates unexpectedly
  3. It stays perfectly stable
  4. It pulls sharply in the direction of the blowout

Answer: It pulls sharply in the direction of the blowout

A front tire blowout causes the vehicle to pull sharply toward that side.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
After a tire blowout, how should a driver slow the vehicle down?
  1. Gradually, by relieving pressure on the accelerator
  2. By slamming on the brakes immediately
  3. By turning off the engine immediately
  4. By pulling the parking brake hard

Answer: Gradually, by relieving pressure on the accelerator

Drivers should slow gradually by easing off the accelerator, not by slamming the brakes.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
If the engine shuts off while a vehicle is moving, how should the driver brake?
  1. By pressing the brake as hard as possible
  2. By pumping the brake rapidly
  3. With steady pressure, not hard braking
  4. By pulling the parking brake hard immediately

Answer: With steady pressure, not hard braking

Drivers should brake with steady pressure, not hard, during a power failure.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
If a rear tire blows out, the vehicle will pull sharply in the direction of the blowout.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

A front blowout pulls sharply toward the blowout; a rear blowout makes the vehicle wobble, shake and pull only some.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
What can drivers do to reduce the chance of experiencing a vehicle malfunction while driving?
  1. Drive only on highways
  2. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule
  3. Avoid using cruise control
  4. Keep the fuel tank always full

Answer: Follow the recommended maintenance schedule

Following the owner's manual maintenance schedule reduces the chance of vehicle problems.

Handbook p. 41 ↗
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