Use this guide to prepare for the exam, and refer to the official manual for complete details.
While every driver strives to avoid them, vehicle malfunctions and collisions can happen unexpectedly. Knowing how to react in these high-stress situations is a critical component of driver safety and legal responsibility. This knowledge is essential not only for passing the driver’s license exam, which covers procedures for crashes and traffic stops, but for protecting yourself and others, and ensuring you meet your legal obligations when things go wrong on the road.
Vehicle Malfunctions
A sudden vehicle problem can be frightening, but a calm, correct response can prevent a malfunction from turning into a major crash.
Tire Blowout
A blowout is a rapid loss of air pressure in a tire, causing the vehicle to pull sharply to one side.
- Grip the Steering Wheel Firmly: Your immediate priority is to maintain control. The vehicle will want to swerve, so hold the wheel with both hands to keep it going straight.
- Do Not Slam on the Brakes: Braking hard can cause the vehicle to spin out of control.
- Ease Off the Accelerator: Let the vehicle slow down gradually on its own.
- Pull Over Safely: Once you have slowed to a manageable speed, activate your turn signal and pull completely off the road to a safe location. Turn on your emergency flashers.
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