Roadwise States Wyoming Driving lessons Skids, brake failure and blowouts Wyoming driving lesson · Crashes & Emergencies
Skids, brake failure and blowouts A 3-minute lesson from the Wyoming 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 Crashes & Emergencies
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 81, 82 Skids, failed brakes and blowouts happen fast. The right response is usually the opposite of your first instinct: don't slam the brakes. Know whether your car has anti-lock (ABS) or conventional brakes, because the technique differs.
Know the rule
The main thing in a skid is to keep calm and not overreact.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ Skid recovery (conventional brakes): Stop doing what started the skid: slammed the brakes? Ease up on them Accelerated too fast? Ease up on the gas pedal DO NOT APPLY THE BRAKES Steer to keep going straight down the road Don't over steer; be ready to steer the opposite way as the vehicle comes out of the skid Handbook p. 81 ↗ Know the rule
For front-wheel-drive vehicles, check the owner's manual for special skid instructions.
Handbook p. 82 ↗ Know the rule
With ABS, press down hard on the brake pedal, hold it and steer out of danger. ABS pumps the brakes for you, much faster than you can.
Handbook p. 82 ↗ Know the rule
Removing steady pressure from the pedal or pumping the brakes will disengage or turn off ABS.
Handbook p. 82 ↗ If your brakes fail: Pump the brake pedal rapidly Use the parking brake, holding the release so you can ease off if the rear wheels lock and skid Shift to a lower gear and look for a place to slow and stop off the roadway Don't try to drive the car to a garage Handbook p. 82 ↗ If a tire blows out: Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the car going straight Ease your foot off the gas pedal, but don't hit the brakes Once the car is under control, brake gently and pull off at the nearest safe spot Use caution when changing the tire Handbook p. 82 ↗ Put it into practice
Your front tire blows out at 65 mph and the car pulls hard to one side. Grip the wheel, keep the car straight, and ease off the gas without braking. When it's under control, brake gently and pull off at a safe spot.
A useful reminder ABS: stomp, hold and steer. Conventional brakes: never lock them up.
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 car begins to skid because you slammed on the brakes, what should you do first? Apply the brakes even harder Ease up on the brakes Turn off the ignition Accelerate to regain traction Answer: Ease up on the brakes
If you slammed on the brakes and started a skid, ease up on them; do not apply the brakes further.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ How should you handle steering when recovering from a conventional-brake skid? Turn the wheel as far as possible in one direction Steer sharply the opposite way at once Steer straight, then correct as it comes out Apply the parking brake immediately Answer: Steer straight, then correct as it comes out
Steer to keep going straight down the road, and be ready to steer in the opposite direction as your vehicle comes out of the skid.
Handbook p. 82 ↗ How do you use ABS brakes correctly in an emergency stop? Pump the pedal rapidly, just like conventional brakes Never apply more than light, gentle pressure Pull the parking brake instead of the pedal Press hard, hold the pedal and steer Answer: Press hard, hold the pedal and steer
With ABS, press down hard on the brake pedal, hold it, and steer; pumping ABS brakes will disengage the system.
Handbook p. 82 ↗ If your brakes fail, what should you do besides pumping the pedal rapidly? Use the parking brake and shift to low gear Turn off the engine immediately while moving Try to drive the car to a garage Shift into neutral and coast to a stop Answer: Use the parking brake and shift to low gear
If brakes fail, pump the pedal rapidly, use the parking brake while holding the release to avoid a rear-wheel skid, and shift to a lower gear.
Handbook p. 82 ↗ If you have a tire blowout, what should you avoid doing immediately? Holding the steering wheel tightly Hitting the brakes Easing your foot off the gas pedal Pulling off the road once the car is under control Answer: Hitting the brakes
During a blowout, ease your foot off the gas but do not hit the brakes; hold the wheel tightly until the car is under control.
Handbook p. 82 ↗ If you accelerated too fast and started a skid, what is the first thing to do? Apply the brakes firmly Ease up on the gas pedal Turn the wheel sharply toward the skid Downshift immediately into first gear Answer: Ease up on the gas pedal
If you accelerated too fast and caused a skid, ease up on the gas pedal, the thing that started the skid.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ Previous lesson When a crash seems unavoidable Next lesson Oncoming cars, steering locks and running off the road More in Crashes & Emergencies About the source Roadwise’s Wyoming course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 81, 82. 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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