Vehicle emergencies

By the end of this topic you can

• You can keep control of the car after a tire blowout.
• You can respond to brake trouble using the brake pedal, lower gears and the parking brake.
• You can deal with a stuck gas pedal by shifting to neutral and braking.
• You can steer safely back onto the road if your wheels leave the pavement.
• You can make yourself safe and visible after a breakdown.

What you need to know and understand

• In almost every emergency, the first job is to keep a firm grip on the wheel with both hands and look where you want to go.
• After a blowout, avoid sudden braking: ease off the gas and steer straight, then slow gradually.
• If the gas pedal sticks, shifting to neutral cuts power to the wheels while you brake.
• Do not turn the engine off while moving unless you must: it can lock the steering and reduce power assistance.
• If brakes fail, pumping the pedal may build pressure in older systems; a lower gear and the parking brake help slow you.
• After a breakdown, get as far off the road as possible, turn on hazard lights and call for help.

Tire blowout or wheels off the pavement

The same calm approach works if your wheels drop off the edge of the pavement. Grip the wheel, ease off the gas, brake gently, check your mirrors and then steer smoothly back onto the road. Jerking the wheel can send you across the lanes.

1. Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands.
2. Do not slam on the brakes.
3. Ease off the gas gradually and keep the car going straight.
4. When the car is under control, brake gently and pull well off the road.
5. Turn on your hazard lights.

Brakes or gas pedal problems

• Brake pedal sinks or feels soft: press firmly; on older cars without anti-lock brakes, pumping may help build pressure. Shift to a lower gear and apply the parking brake gradually, keeping the release handy in case the car starts to skid.
• Brakes wet after deep water: drive slowly and press the brake lightly to dry them.
• Gas pedal stuck: shift to neutral, brake firmly, steer to a safe place, then turn off the engine once stopped.
• Steering suddenly heavy: the power assist may have failed. Steer with more effort and slow down carefully.
• Headlights fail at night: try the high-beam or parking light switch, slow down and pull off as soon as it is safe.

After you stop

Move onto the right shoulder, or completely off the road, as far from traffic as you can. Turn on hazard lights and, if you have them and it is safe, place warning triangles or flares behind the car. On a freeway, California's handbook advises staying inside with your seat belt on until help arrives. It also says getting out on the side away from traffic and waiting well clear can be safer when the shoulder is too narrow or there is a guardrail or safe area to stand behind.

Call 911 if anyone is hurt or the car is blocking traffic; otherwise call roadside assistance. Many states also have a highway help number or call boxes.

Common mistakes

• Braking hard after a blowout: ease off and steer straight first.
• Turning off the engine while moving at speed: shift to neutral instead.
• Jerking the wheel after drifting off the road: slow down, then steer back smoothly.
• Standing behind or beside the car on a busy road: get well away from traffic or stay buckled in.
• Forgetting hazard lights: make yourself visible at once.

Test yourself: Vehicle emergencies

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• What to Do if Your Brakes Fail, a Tire Blows and More