A 3-minute lesson from the Oregon course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Good maintenance prevents most equipment failures — check your owner's manual. But when something fails at speed, you need to act fast and in the right order. Each failure has a short routine worth memorizing.
Know the rule
An unmaintained vehicle can become unsafe to drive. Most equipment failures can be avoided with good maintenance.
Going downhill, your brake pedal sinks to the floor. Pump the brakes, shift into a lower gear, and slowly pull the parking brake. Flash your lights and sound your horn to warn others, then ease onto the shoulder once you've slowed.
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 you have a tire blowout while driving, you should:
Grip firmly, slow gradually, and pull off the road
Brake firmly at once, then steer to the nearest shoulder
Speed up to reach the shoulder faster
Turn the wheel sharply away from the blown tire
Answer: Grip firmly, slow gradually, and pull off the road
A firm grip and gradual slowing are key after a blowout.