Roadwise States New Hampshire Driving lessons Stuck accelerator, headlight failure, and breakdowns New Hampshire driving lesson · Driving Emergencies
Stuck accelerator, headlight failure, and breakdowns 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.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Driving Emergencies
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 42 When the gas pedal sticks, the lights go out, or the car simply dies, the goal is the same: control the vehicle, get off the road safely, and make sure other drivers can see you.
If the accelerator sticks: Keep your eyes on the road Shift into neutral Brake firmly to counteract the acceleration When safe, pull off the road Stop and turn off the engine Handbook p. 42 ↗ If your headlights suddenly go out: Try the turn signals or emergency flashers Pull off the road as quickly and safely as possible and leave the flashers on Handbook p. 42 ↗ If your vehicle breaks down: Turn on the emergency flashers to show you're disabled If possible, get off the road and away from traffic safely and quickly If available, place flares or reflectors 200 feet in front of and behind the vehicle Once stopped, use a phone to notify authorities Handbook p. 42 ↗ 200 feet Place flares or reflectors this far in front of and behind a disabled vehicle
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Know the rule
With no phone, raise the hood and tie a white cloth (red in a snowstorm) to the driver's door handle or antenna to show you need help.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Know the rule
If possible, stay with the vehicle until help arrives; if it's in a hazardous spot, get everyone out and well away from traffic.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Put it into practice
Your car dies on a snowy rural road and you have no signal. Turn on the flashers, raise the hood, and tie a red cloth to the door handle or antenna, since it's snowing. Stay with the car unless it's in a dangerous spot.
A useful reminder White cloth normally, RED cloth in a snowstorm.
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 accelerator becomes stuck, what gear should a driver shift into? Low gear Park Overdrive Neutral Answer: Neutral
Shifting into neutral helps a driver regain control when the accelerator is stuck.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ If a vehicle's headlights suddenly fail at night, what should a driver try first? The interior dome light Holding the horn down Pumping the brakes to flash brake lights The turn signals or emergency flashers Answer: The turn signals or emergency flashers
Drivers should try the turn signals or emergency flashers if the headlights fail.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ When a vehicle breaks down, how far in front of and behind it should flares or reflectors be placed if available? 50 feet 200 feet 500 feet 100 feet Answer: 200 feet
Flares or reflectors should be placed 200 feet in front of and behind a disabled vehicle.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ If no phone is available after a breakdown, what should a driver tie to the door handle or antenna to signal for help? A reflective triangle sign A bright orange flag only A white cloth (red in a snowstorm) A red cloth in any weather Answer: A white cloth (red in a snowstorm)
Tying a white cloth (red during a snowstorm) alerts others that help is needed.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ During a vehicle breakdown, if it's hazardous, passengers should get out of the vehicle and well away from traffic. True False Answer: True
In a hazardous breakdown location, passengers should exit and move well away from traffic.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ If a vehicle's accelerator becomes stuck, where should the driver keep their eyes? On the gas pedal On the road On the gear shifter On the speedometer Answer: On the road
With a stuck accelerator, keep your eyes on the road, shift to neutral, brake firmly, pull off when safe, then stop and turn off the engine.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Previous lesson Brake, tire, and engine failure Next lesson Pedestrians More in Driving Emergencies About the source Roadwise’s New Hampshire course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 42. 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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