Washington driving lesson · Conditions and Emergencies
Vehicle failures and breakdowns
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.
Tires blow, engines quit, lights go dark, and accelerators stick. Each failure has its own short routine. The common thread: keep control, get off the road if you can, and make sure other drivers can see you.
If your vehicle has trouble on the road:
Get off the road and away from traffic if possible
Stop where others can clearly see you; avoid stopping just over a hill or around a curve
Turn on your emergency flashers and headlights
Stand somewhere safe and wave traffic around you if you have no flares or warning device
Lift the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna, side mirror, or door handle
Your front tire blows out at 55 mph and the car pulls hard. Grip the wheel, keep it straight, and lift off the gas without braking. Let the car slow, brake gently only if needed, and pull off in a safe place with your flashers on.
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 break down, about how far behind your vehicle should you place warning flares?
50 to 100 feet
500 to 600 feet
10 to 20 feet
200 to 300 feet
Answer: 200 to 300 feet
Warn other drivers by placing emergency flares 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle.