roadwise.Open study app

West Virginia driving lesson · Emergencies and Crashes

Skids, stuck pedals, fires and other emergencies

A 4-minute lesson from the West Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
4 minutes
Course unit
Emergencies and Crashes
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
81, 82

When something goes wrong at speed, your first reaction decides the outcome. The handbook gives a specific response for each emergency; learn them so they're automatic.

Know the rule

If you skid, stay calm and don't brake unless you're about to hit something. Take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid.

Handbook p. 81 ↗

Know the rule

If the rear skids right, turn right; left, turn left. If it then skids the other way, again turn toward where you want to go, then straighten the wheels.

Handbook p. 81 ↗

Stuck gas pedal:

  • Keep steering and eyes on the road
  • Try to free the pedal with your foot
  • If that fails, push in the clutch or shift into neutral
  • Brake, stop at the nearest safe place, and turn off the ignition
Handbook p. 81 ↗

Wheels run off the road:

  • Grip the wheel tightly; stay on the shoulder and ease off the gas
  • Brake gently and slow gradually
  • Check behind and ahead for traffic
  • Turn sharply back onto the pavement, then turn back the other way as wheels reach the edge
Handbook p. 81 ↗

Know the rule

Steering fails: ease off the gas. If you stay in your lane, let the car slow, then brake gently. If you're heading off the road or toward someone, brake quickly with maximum pressure.

Handbook p. 82 ↗

Know the rule

Headlights fail: on a lighted highway, get onto the shoulder. On a dark one, try parking lights, turn signals or flashers; if all lights fail, stay on the road and slow down enough to pull off safely.

Handbook p. 82 ↗

Know the rule

Fire: get off the road and turn off the ignition. Use a chemical extinguisher, or dirt or sand, never water; burning gasoline floats and spreads.

Handbook p. 82 ↗
100 feet

Move at least this far from a burning vehicle that's out of control; the gas tank may explode

Handbook p. 82 ↗

Know the rule

Vehicle coming at you in your lane: move right, slow down, sound your horn and flash your lights. Don't swerve into its lane; the driver may correct back.

Handbook p. 82 ↗

Know the rule

Stalled on railroad tracks with a train coming: get out and move to a safe location.

Handbook p. 82 ↗

Know the rule

Oil pressure light on: get off the road, turn off the engine immediately, and check and add oil if needed.

Handbook p. 82 ↗

Jump-starting a dead battery:

  • Remove vent caps and cover the open wells with a cloth; turn off lights, heater, A/C and radio
  • Connect dead battery positive (+) to live battery positive (+)
  • Connect live battery negative (-) to the dead car's engine block or frame
  • Make sure the cars aren't touching; start the helping car, then after a few minutes the other
  • Remove cables in reverse order; wash off any battery acid with water
Handbook p. 82 ↗

Put it into practice

On an icy curve the back of your car slides to the left. Lift off the gas, don't brake, and turn the wheel left, the way the rear is sliding. If it swings back right, steer right, then straighten out.

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 vehicle begins to skid, what is the first thing you should do?
  1. Slam on the brakes immediately
  2. Turn the wheel sharply opposite the skid
  3. Take your foot off the gas pedal
  4. Accelerate to regain traction

Answer: Take your foot off the gas pedal

To steer out of a skid, first take your foot off the gas, then steer in the direction of the skid.

Handbook p. 81 ↗
If the rear of your vehicle is skidding to the right, which way should you turn the steering wheel?
  1. To the left, opposite the skid
  2. Keep the wheel perfectly straight
  3. To the right, in the direction of the skid
  4. Turn sharply left then immediately right

Answer: To the right, in the direction of the skid

You steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding to help regain control.

Handbook p. 81 ↗
If your gas pedal sticks, what should you try after attempting to free it with your foot?
  1. Turn off the ignition immediately
  2. Pull the parking brake as hard as possible immediately
  3. Pump the brake pedal quickly
  4. Push in the clutch or shift into neutral

Answer: Push in the clutch or shift into neutral

If you can't free a stuck gas pedal with your foot, shift into neutral (or push in the clutch) to cut power to the wheels.

Handbook p. 81 ↗
If your wheels run off the pavement onto the shoulder, what should you do?
  1. Ease off the accelerator and brake gently while staying on the shoulder
  2. Yank the wheel back onto the pavement immediately
  3. Accelerate to get back onto the road quickly
  4. Slam on the brakes to stop instantly

Answer: Ease off the accelerator and brake gently while staying on the shoulder

You should stay on the shoulder, ease off the gas, and brake gently before carefully steering back onto the pavement.

Handbook p. 81 ↗
If smoke comes from under the hood and no fire extinguisher is available, what can you use to smother the fire?
  1. Water
  2. A wet blanket only
  3. Dirt or sand
  4. Nothing; you must wait for help

Answer: Dirt or sand

Dirt or sand can smother an engine fire; water should never be used because burning gasoline floats on it.

Handbook p. 82 ↗
You should brake immediately when your vehicle begins to skid.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

You should not brake during a skid unless you're about to hit something; focus on steering out of it.

Handbook p. 81 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Emergencies and Crashes

All West Virginia lessons