Roadwise States South Carolina Driving lessons Brake, tire & engine failures South Carolina driving lesson · Emergency Situations
Brake, tire & engine failures A 3-minute lesson from the South Carolina 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 Emergency Situations
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 106, 107, 108 Following the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual greatly reduces the chance of a breakdown. When something fails anyway, knowing the steps keeps you in control.
Know the rule
Check your warning lights. A brake warning light means your brakes aren't working properly, so don't drive.
Handbook p. 106 ↗ If your brakes stop working while driving: Use the parking brake: pull the handle or push the pedal slowly so the rear wheels don't lock Be ready to release the parking brake if the vehicle starts to skid If the parking brake doesn't work, turn off the engine and find a safe place to slow to a stop Get the vehicle off the roadway, and don't keep driving without working brakes Handbook p. 106 ↗ Know the rule
A front-tire blowout pulls the vehicle sharply toward the blowout. A rear-tire blowout makes it wobble, shake and pull somewhat toward the blowout.
Handbook p. 107 ↗ If a tire blows out or suddenly goes flat: 1. Grip the wheel firmly and keep the vehicle going straight 2. Slow down gradually; take your foot off the accelerator 3. Don't brake; let the vehicle slow by itself, or brake gently if needed 4. Don't stop on the road if possible; pull off in a safe place and turn on flashers 5. Have the tire changed and replaced Handbook p. 107 ↗ If the engine shuts off while driving: 1. Keep a strong grip; the wheel may be hard to turn, but it still turns 2. Look for an escape path; don't brake hard; use steady pressure, slow down, pull off 3. Stop and try to restart; if it won't, raise the hood, turn on flashers, call for help Handbook p. 107 ↗ If the accelerator sticks: 1. Turn off the engine 2. Shift to neutral and look for an escape path 3. Steer smoothly, brake gently, and pull off the roadway 4. Have the pedal repaired at a service center before driving again Handbook p. 108 ↗ Put it into practice
On the interstate your right front tire blows. The car jerks right. Hold the wheel firmly and keep it straight, lift off the gas, and let the car slow on its own. Then ease onto the shoulder and turn on your flashers.
A useful reminder Blowout: don't brake. Grip, go straight, and let the car slow.
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 brakes fail while driving, your first response should be to: Use the parking brake carefully Turn off the engine immediately Shift into neutral and coast Accelerate to reach a service station Answer: Use the parking brake carefully
If your brakes stop working, use the parking brake, applying it slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels.
Handbook p. 106 ↗ When using the parking brake to stop after brake failure, you should: Yank it as hard as possible Apply it slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels Pump it rapidly like ABS Only use it above 40 mph Answer: Apply it slowly to avoid locking the rear wheels
Push or pull the parking brake slowly so you will not lock the rear wheels and cause a skid.
Handbook p. 106 ↗ If the parking brake doesn't work after brake failure, you should: Pump the brake pedal harder Pump the accelerator to slow down Turn off the engine; find a safe stop Shift into a higher gear Answer: Turn off the engine; find a safe stop
If the parking brake does not work, turn off the engine and look for a safe place to slow to a stop.
Handbook p. 107 ↗ If a front tire blows out, the vehicle will: Continue straight with no noticeable change Immediately stop moving Pull away from the direction of the blowout Pull toward the blowout side Answer: Pull toward the blowout side
If a front tire blows out, the vehicle will pull sharply in the direction of the blowout.
Handbook p. 107 ↗ After a tire blowout, you should: Grip the wheel firmly and slow down gradually Brake hard immediately Steer onto the shoulder right away Turn the wheel sharply to compensate Answer: Grip the wheel firmly and slow down gradually
Grip the steering wheel firmly, keep the vehicle going straight, and slow down gradually without hard braking.
Handbook p. 107 ↗ If your vehicle is accelerating out of control (stuck accelerator), your first step should be to: Pump the accelerator Shift into a higher gear Turn off the engine Pump the brake pedal Answer: Turn off the engine
If your vehicle is accelerating out of control, turn off the engine first.
Handbook p. 108 ↗ Previous lesson Avoiding collisions & handling skids Next lesson Breakdowns & emergency contact info More in Emergency Situations About the source Roadwise’s South Carolina course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 106, 107, 108. 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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