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Washington driving lesson · Conditions and Emergencies

Power lines, witnessing a crash, and your emergency kit

A 3-minute lesson from the Washington 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
Conditions and Emergencies
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
178, 179, 183

A crash involving power lines is one of the few times the safest place is inside your car. Assume every line is energized. And if you only witness a crash, your job is to keep yourself and the responders safe by staying focused.

Know the rule

If a power line touches your vehicle, don't get out. Turn off your engine, call 911, and stay inside until emergency responders arrive.

Handbook p. 178 ↗

Know the rule

If you drive over a power line, stop immediately. Moving forward or reversing risks electrocution. Stay inside until you're told it's safe.

Handbook p. 178 ↗

Know the rule

If lines fall on your vehicle or you hit a transformer box, stay inside and call 911; the ground around the vehicle could be energized.

Handbook p. 178 ↗
35 feet

Encourage people to stay at least this far away, and shuffle this far if you must escape

Handbook p. 178 ↗

If a fire starts and you must escape:

  • Open the door and perch on the ledge of the doorway
  • Jump clear, arms at your sides, without touching the vehicle
  • Land with both feet together
  • Shuffle 35 feet away to avoid electric shock
  • Don't go back for belongings until told it's safe
Handbook p. 178 ↗

If you witness a crash:

  • Don't block emergency responders
  • Follow directions from police, firefighters, and others directing traffic
  • Focus on your driving as you pass; slowing to stare causes congestion
Handbook p. 179 ↗

Emergency kit items:

  • First aid kit and flashlight
  • Blanket and water
  • Jumper cables
  • Tool kit or multipurpose utility tool
  • Backup phone charger or power source
  • Spare tire, wheel wrench, and jack
  • Reflective triangles or flares
Handbook p. 179 ↗

Know the rule

Keep a paper copy of important numbers, like family and insurance, in case your phone dies and you must call from another phone.

Handbook p. 179 ↗

Good drivers are:

  • Alert
  • Buckled
  • Calm
  • Focused
  • Sober
Handbook p. 183 ↗

Put it into practice

After a crash, a downed line is draped across your hood and smoke starts rising from the engine. Open the door, perch on the doorway ledge, and jump clear with arms at your sides and feet together, without touching the car. Then shuffle 35 feet away.

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.

A power line falls on your vehicle after a crash. What should you do?
  1. Stay inside the vehicle and call 911
  2. Get out immediately and move away
  3. Drive forward off the line
  4. Step out and walk 35 feet away

Answer: Stay inside the vehicle and call 911

If a power line lands on your car, stay inside and call 911; the ground around the vehicle could be energized.

Handbook p. 178 ↗
If your vehicle catches fire after contact with power lines and you must evacuate, how should you land after jumping clear?
  1. On one foot at a time
  2. Rolling immediately after landing
  3. Knees bent, hands touching the ground
  4. With both feet together

Answer: With both feet together

Jump clear with your arms at your sides and make sure both feet land together to avoid electric shock.

Handbook p. 178 ↗
It's a good idea to keep a paper copy of important phone numbers in your emergency kit in case your phone battery dies.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

A paper copy of important numbers helps if your phone battery dies and you need to borrow a phone.

Handbook p. 179 ↗
Power lines have fallen on your vehicle. How far away should you encourage other people to stay?
  1. At least 10 feet
  2. At least 100 feet
  3. At least 200 feet
  4. At least 35 feet

Answer: At least 35 feet

The ground around the vehicle could be energized; encourage people to stay at least 35 feet away.

Handbook p. 178 ↗
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